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Diethylmercury

Chemical compound From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diethylmercury
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Diethylmercury is a flammable, colorless liquid, and one of the strongest known neurotoxins. This organomercury compound is described as having a slightly sweet smell, though inhaling enough fumes to notice this would be hazardous.[1] This chemical can cross the blood–brain barrier, causing permanent brain damage. It is, however, considerably less toxic than dimethylmercury.

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The resulting (CH3CH2)2Hg is a dense liquid (2.466 g/cm3) that boils at 57 °C at 16 torr. This extremely toxic compound is slightly soluble in ethanol and soluble in ether.

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Synthesis

Diethylmercury can be obtained from the reaction between ethylmagnesium bromide and mercury(II) chloride.[2]

2 C2H5MgBr + HgCl2 → Hg(C2H5)2 + MgBr2 + MgCl2

Other methods are also known.[3]

See also

References

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