Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of some aryl derivatives of mercury

The proton magnetic resonance spectra of a series of arylmercury chlorides containing methyl groups or a single polar substituent have been determined paying particular attention to mercury-proton spin-spin coupling. This is readily observed for protons or methyl groups ortho or meta to mercury but rarely for the para derivatives. The ortho coupling is relatively insensitive to structure whereas the meta coupling shows considerable variations that appear to be associated with conformational effects