Metal-substituted benzenes have a long history of use in medicine. Before antibiotics were discovered, phenylarsenic derivatives were the only treatment for a number of diseases. Phenylmercury compounds continue to be used as fungicides and antimicrobial agents to the present day. On the basis of the general principles explained in this chapter and your knowledge of the characteristics of compounds of Hg²⁺ (see Section 12-7), propose a sensible synthesis of phenylmercury acetate (shown in the margin). 

Transcribed Image Text:

H9OCCH3 Phenylmercury acetate