Abstract
Reactions of thioxanthylium ion with dimethyl-, dibenzyl-, diisopropyl-, and diphenylmercury in the air gave 9,9'-methylenedithioxanthene, 9-benzylthioxanthene, 9-acetonylthioxanthene, and 9-phenylthioxanthene, respectively, as a 9-substituted thioxanthene. In contrast with reactions with aromatics with an electron-donating group, large amount of thioxanthene and thioxanthone were obtained. However, only trace amounts of thioxanthene and thioxanthone were obtained from the reaction with dibenzylmercury under nitrogen atmosphere. In order to explain these reactions, one electron transfer between thioxanthylium ion and organomercurials was proposed.