Mercury-assisted solvolyses of alkyl halides. Simple procedures for the preparation of nitrate esters, acetate esters, alcohols and ethers

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)97118-2

The reactions of a wide variety of alkyl halides with mercury(I) and/or (II) nitrate in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, mercury(II) acetate in acetic acid, aqueous mercury(II) perchlorate, and mercury(II) perchlorate in alcohol solvents have been investigated; as a result, simple high yield procedures for the conversion of alkyl halides into the corresponding nitrate esters, acetate esters, alcohols and ethers have been developed.