Abstract The main thermal decomposition path for mercuric 2, 6-disubstituted benzoates,(RCO 2) 2 Hg (R= 2, 6-X 2 C 6 H 3; X= F, Cl, Br, or Me), can be varied considerably. In boiling dimethyl sulphoxide, decarboxylation occurs giving the corresponding diarylmercurial (X= F or Cl) or RHgO 2 CR derivative (X= Me or Br). There is considerable competition from reaction of the mercuric salt with the solvent in the last ...
