Cobalt complexes with tetradentate ligands: Synthesis and cleavage of the Hg-C bond

Abstract

Transfer reactions of methyl and other metal a-bonded groups from a series of cobalt organometallic chelates (in cluding methylcobalamin) to mercury andvice-versa, are reported. The thermodynamically favoured reactions, valid also for the vitamin B12, are: the transfer of the methyl group as a carbanion from cobalt to mercuric (synthesis of [MeHg]+ and Me2Hg) or to mercurous ion (synthesis of [MeHg]+ + Hg(O)) and its transfer as a carbonium ion from [MeHgj+ to Co(l).