Synthesis of 1,3,5-tri- and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted tin and mercury derivatives of benzene. Crystal structure of 1,3,5-tris(chloromercurio)benzene

The reaction of 1,3,5-tribromo- or 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene with trimethylstannyl sodium in tetraglyme gave the corresponding polystannylated benzene derivatives 2 and 4, respectively, in high yield. They were converted with mercuric chloride to the corresponding tris- and tetrakis(chloromercurio)benzenes 5 and 6, respectively. The structure of 5 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Some spectral properties of the new compounds are discussed. The (partial) conversion of 2 to 1,3,5-trilithiobenzene (8) was also investigated.