Mercuration of Salts of 2- and 4-Methyl-substituted Heterocyclic Cations: A Quantum-Chemical Study

The deprotonation energies (ΔHr) of salts of 2- and 4-methyl-substituted pyridinium, pyrylium, quinolinium, and indolinium salts were evaluated by AM1 calculations. These data allow prediction of the mercuration pathway in reactions of these compounds with mercury salts. The structural factors affecting ΔHr and the main trends in variation of the geometric and electronic structures of the compounds upon their deprotonation in the course of mercuration were analyzed.