Polarographic Studies in Acetonitrile and Dimethylformamide

Abstract

Polarographic studies of benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, benzyl iodide, benzylmercuric iodide, dibenzylmercury, mercuric iodide, ethyl chloroacetate, and ethyl bromoacetate have been made in acetonitrile and dimethylformamide containing tetrabutylammonium salts. Benzyl chloride and ethyl chloroacetate were found to undergo a facile displacement reaction with bromide ion. Benzyl chloride and bromide react with iodide ion to form benzyl iodide which reacts rapidly with mercury and forms benzylmercuric iodide. The latter compound, on standing, slowly forms mercuric iodide.