Mercury substitution ortho to appropriately activated benzenes was achieved by using the reagent lithium tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP)/mercuric chloride. LiTMP provides for lithiation ortho to the activating group; HgC12 functions as an in situ trap effecting mercury-for-lithium transmetalation. Ortho, ortho'-dimercuration was also observed; this occurs by iteration of the transmetalation process. The effects of major variables on these reactions were studied by ...
