Mercuration of some polyhydroxybenzaldehydes and their monomethyl ethers / by T.A. Henry and T.M. Sharp.

  • Henry, Thomas Anderson, 1873-1958
Date:
[1930.]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mercuration of some polyhydroxybenzaldehydes and their monomethyl ethers / by T.A. Henry and T.M. Sharp. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Reprinted from the Journal of the Chemical Society, 1930. CCXCIV.—Mercuration of Some Polyhydroxybenzalde- hydes and their Monomethyl Ethers. By Thomas Anderson Henry and Thomas Marvel Sharp. Mercuration takes place with remarkable rapidity when alcoholic solutions of 2 : 3-, 2 : 4-, 2 : 5-, or 3 : 4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde are mixed at room temperature with mercuric acetate, as is shown by the fact that, within a few minutes of mixing, a test portion dis¬ solves completely in aqueous alkali. This result is doubtless due to the well-known activating effect on mercuration of phenolic hydroxyl groups, an effect which would naturally be enhanced by multiplying these groups. With the aldehydes which have their two hydroxyl groups in the ortho- or para-position to each other it has not been possible to isolate the mercury compounds in a pure state owing to the ease with which they undergo intramolecular oxidation with the separation of mercury as metal or in the mercurous condition. In the case of gentisinaldehyde (I) mercuration is quickly followed by oxidation, with the separation of mercurous acetate. CHO CHO CHO (I.) (II.) (HI.)