R'HG-DERIVATIVES AND PH(3)PAU-DERIVATIVES OF SUBSTITUTED MALONONITRILES RCH(CN)(2)

The organomercurials RC(HgR')(CN)(2) (R = Me, Ph; R' = Ph, CH(2)Ph) ha ve been obtained by the action of organomercury hydroxides R'HgOH or a cetates R'HgOAc on substituted malonodinitriles RCH(CN)(2). (Ph(3)PAu) (3)O+BF4- reacts with the same nitriles to give organogold derivatives RC(AuPPh(3))(CN)(2). The study of the structures of organomercury and -gold compounds by H-1, P-31 and Hg-199 NMR spectra as well as by IR spectra show that these compounds exist mainly in the C-form. The dege nerated exchange reaction involving the cleavage of C-Hg bond takes pl ace in the phenylmercury derivative of methylmalonodinitrile. Organome rcury derivatives of substituted malonodinitriles are stable with resp ect to symmetrization in solution, in contrast to PhCH(HgPh)CN studied previously.