Coulometric generation of hydrogen ions by oxidation of mercury in methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone

Mercury(II)-chloride reacts with anhydrous methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone in a precise stoichiometry ratio (1:2), and weakly ionized compounds of mercury with ketones are formed and equivalent quantity of HCl is released. The application of a mercury anode for the quantitative generation of H+ ions in 0.25 M sodium perchlorate in anhydrous methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone has been investigated. Current/potentials curves for the solvents, titrated bases, indicator and mercury showed that in these solvents mercury is oxidized at potentials much more negative than those for the titrated bases and other components present in the solution. The protons generated in this way have been used for the titration of some organic bases, with either visual or potentiometric end-point detection. The oxidation of mercury in methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone and the reaction of mercury ions with these solvents have been found to proceed with 100% current efficiency.