Reactions Of A Mercurial Dichlorocarbene Precursor With Benzophenone

Evidence is presented that the reaction of phenyldichlorobromomethylmercury with benzophenone results in the formation of carbon monoxide, dichlorodiphenylmethane, and chlorodiphenylacetyl chloride, and that the reaction may involve the intermediacy of a complex between the mercurial and the benzophenone in addition to a carbonyl ylide and/or a dichloro-oxiran.