Bis(trimethylsilyl)mercury is a chemical reagent with the formula (CH3)3-Si-Hg-Si-(CH3)3.
Synthesis This compound was first synthesized by Wiberg et al. in 1963, by the reaction of trimethylsilyl bromide with sodium amalgam:
2 Na + Hg + TMSBr → TMS2Hg + 2 NaBr
Reactions On prolonged heating at 100-160 °C, or when stood under light as an ethereal solution, it decomposes to hexamethyldisilane:
TMS2Hg → (CH3)3Si-Si(CH3)3 + Hg
Reaction with hydrogen chloride gives trimethylsilane and trimethylsilyl chloride:
TMS2Hg + HCl → TMSH + TMSCl + Hg
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Further reading