FACILE GENERATION OF ALKYL RADICALS BY THE PALLADIUM ON CARBON CATALYZED THERMOLYSIS OF ALKYLMERCURIALS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1983.1623

Dibenzylmercury was completely decomposed within 20 min in refluxing xylene in the presence of a catalytic amount of 5percent palladium on carbon, giving mercury and dibenzyl.The generation of benzyl radicals was confirmed by the formation of 1,3-adduct to α-phenyl-N-benzylnitrone and 9,10-adduct to anthracene.Other alkylmercurials showed a similar but less satisfactory result.