Thermal Studies on Some Biologically Active Organomercury(II) Complexes

Thermal behaviour of a number of organomercury(II) complexes of the type, p-XC₆H₄HgCl(L¹) (I), p-XC₆H₄HgCl₃(L²) (II), p-XC₆H₄HgL³ (III) and p-XC₆H₄HgL⁴ (IV) L ¹=isoniazid, L ²=theobromine, L ³=phenyldithiocarbamate, L ⁴=p-nitrophenyldithiocarbamate; X=Me, MeO, NO₂] has been investigated. From TG curves, the order and activation energy of the thermal decomposition reaction have been elucidated. The variation of the activation energy has been correlated with the nature of the substituent on the phenyl ring. The heat of reaction has been elucidated from DSC or DTA studies. The fragmentation pattern has been analysed on the basis of mass spectra.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.A part of this work was carried out at Intitute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, under the Visiting Associateship Scheme (1992–95) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.