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 nerv ...

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+; e ...

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 border of endothelial cells that prevents solutes in the circulating blood from ''non-selectively'' crossing into the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system where ne ...

, 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 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 C₂H₅MgBr + HgCl₂ → Hg(C₂H₅)₂ + MgBr₂ + MgCl₂ Other methods are also known.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diethyl Mercury Organomercury compounds Sweet-smelling chemicals

Synthesis

See also

References