Direct transfer of aliphatic and aromatic substituents from organosilatranes to mercury(II) species

The relative reaction rates of several silatranes (derivatives of 2,8.9-trioxa-5-aza- 1-silatricyclo[3.3.3.0^1,5]undecane) and HgCl₂ in acetone-d₆to yield the corresponding organomercury compound are of the order of e.g., 5 × 10^?1 1 mol^?1 sec^?1 or slightly less, a rate that is unexpectedly high compared to the essentially inert parent organotrialkoxysilanes. Thus, the apical Si&.zsbnd;C bond of the silatrane is extraordinarily susceptible to direct electrophilic attack by mercury(II). The rates decrease in the order CH₂CH, C₆H₅, p-ClC₆H₄ > CH₃ > CH₃CH₂, CH₃CH₂CH₂ > C₆H₁₁, ClCH₂, Cl₂CH, CH₃CH₂O. The effects of varying the solvent and the counterions are noted, and the probable mechanism is discussed.