Organomercury compounds XX Reactions of lithium polyfluorobenzenesulphinates with mercuric salts

The lithium polyfluorobenzenesulphinates, Li O₂SR (R = C₆F₅, $\text{p}$-HC₆F₄, $\text{m}$-HC₆F₄, or $\text{o}$-HC₆F₄), and the dilithium tetrafluorobenzenedisulphinates, $\text{p}$- and $\text{o}$-(LiO₂S)₂C₆F₄, have been prepared by reaction of the appropriate polyfluoroaryllithium compounds with sulphur dioxide. All compounds were isolated as hydrates and gave the corresponding $\text{S}$-benzylthiouronium salts on treatment with $\text{S}$-benzylthiouronium chloride. From reactions of the lithium sulphinates with suitable mercuric salts in water, generally at room temperature, the derivatives RHgX (R = C₆F₅, X = Cl, Br, CH₃CO₂, or PhSO₂; R = $\text{p}$-HC₆F₄, X = Cl, Br, or CH₃CO₂; R = $\text{m}$-HC₆F₄, X = Cl or Br; R = $\text{o}$-HC₆F₄, X = Cl), $\text{p}$-(XHg)₂C₆F₄ (X = Cl, Br, or CH₃CO₂), and $\text{o}$-(XHg)₂C₆X₄ (X = Cl or Br) have been prepared. Similarly, the bispolyfluorophenylmercurials R₂Hg (R = C₆F₅, $\text{p}$-HC₆F₄, or $\text{m}$-HC₆F₄) have been prepared from the corresponding lithium sulphinates and either mercuric salts or polyfluorophenylmercuric halides in aqueous $\text{t}$-butanol. A possible mechanism for the sulphur dioxide elimination reactions is discussed.