Diethylmercury is a flammable, colorless liquid, and one of the strongest known
neurotoxin
Neurotoxins are toxins that are destructive to nerve tissue (causing neurotoxicity). Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insultsSpencer 2000 that can adversely affect function in both developing and mature ner ...
s. This
organomercury compound
Organomercury refers to the group of organometallic compounds that contain mercury. Typically the Hg–C bond is stable toward air and moisture but sensitive to light. Important organomercury compounds are the methylmercury(II) cation, CH3Hg+; ...
is described as having a slightly sweet smell, though inhaling enough fumes to notice this would be hazardous.
This chemical can cross the
blood–brain barrier
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective semipermeable membrane, semipermeable border of endothelium, endothelial cells that prevents solutes in the circulating blood from ''non-selectively'' crossing into the extracellular fluid of ...
, causing permanent brain damage. It is, however, considerably less toxic than
dimethylmercury
Dimethylmercury (( C H3)2 Hg) is an extremely toxic organomercury compound. A highly volatile, reactive, flammable, and colorless liquid, dimethylmercury is one of the strongest known neurotoxins, with a quantity of less than 0.1 mL capable of in ...
.
Synthesis
Diethylmercury can be obtained from the reaction between
ethylmagnesium bromide
Ethylmagnesium bromide is a Grignard reagent with formula C2H5MgBr. It is widely used in the laboratory synthesis of organic compounds.
Reactions
Apart from acting as the synthetic equivalent of an ethyl anion synthon for nucleophilic addition, ...
and
mercury(II) chloride
Mercury(II) chloride (or mercury bichloride, mercury dichloride), historically also known as sulema or corrosive sublimate, is the inorganic chemical compound of mercury and chlorine with the formula HgCl2. It is white crystalline solid and is ...
.
:2 C
2H
5MgBr + HgCl
2 → Hg(C
2H
5)
2 + MgBr
2 + MgCl
2
Other methods are also known.
See also
*
Dimethylmercury
Dimethylmercury (( C H3)2 Hg) is an extremely toxic organomercury compound. A highly volatile, reactive, flammable, and colorless liquid, dimethylmercury is one of the strongest known neurotoxins, with a quantity of less than 0.1 mL capable of in ...
, a related compound
*
Ethylmercury
*
Mercury poisoning
Mercury poisoning is a type of metal poisoning due to exposure to mercury. Symptoms depend upon the type, dose, method, and duration of exposure. They may include muscle weakness, poor coordination, numbness in the hands and feet, skin rashe ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diethyl Mercury
Organomercury compounds
Sweet-smelling chemicals