Coulometric generation of acetylions by oxidation of mercury in acetic anhydride and in acetic acid/acetic anhydride mixture

Coulometric generation of acetyl (CH₃CO⁺) ions by oxidation of mercury in acetic anhydride and in acetic acid/acetic anhydride (5:95, v/v) is described. Current/potential curves for solvents, titrated bases, indicator and mercury showed that in both these solvents mercury is oxidized at potentials which are much more negative than those for the titrated bases and other components present in the solution. Quinoline, triethanolamine, triethylamine, pyridine and quinolin-8-ol in acetic anhydride, as well as triethylamine, 2,2′-bipyridine, 2,4,6-collidine, pyridine and sodium acetate in acetic acid/acetic anhydride were titrated with acetyl ions generated by the oxidation of mercury. In this way, it was established that the oxidation of mercury to mercury (I) ions proceeds quantitatively with 100% current efficiency.