An electron spin resonance study of organomercury adducts of phenanthroquinont

The exchange reaction between M+PQ−• ion-pairs and MeHgCl leads to the formation of MeHgPQ• adduct with a characteristic low g-factor of 2.00052 and a small methyl proton splittings of 0.16 G. The dynamic and equilibrium aspects of the exchange depend upon the alkali cation, the concentration of MeHgCl, and for M+PQ−• also on temperature. The MeHgPQ• is found to be relatively stable at room temperature and in the presence of water. These results may be of potential value to toxicology studies of methylmercury.