Abstract: 1HNMR spectra of 16 Schiff base type of arylmercury compounds and 4 -substituted benzylideneanilines have been studied. It was found that the p-substituents of the N-phenyl ring do not affect the δ values of methine proton, whereas the o-substitutents influence the δ values of methine proton, whereas the o-substituents influence the δ values of methine proton significantly. These changes can be reasonably interpreted in terms of the steric inhibition of o-substituents and intramolecular coordination of imino nitrogen with mercury. The influence of the m-or p-substituent of the C-phenyl ring on the δ values of methine proton exhibited a linear correlation with Hammett constants σ_p or σ_m. It was also confirmed that in the molecules of Schiff base type of arylmercury compounds there exists an intramolecular coordination via a four-membered ring.

Key words: ¹H NMR, Arylmercurial, Substituent effect, N→Hg intramolecular co-ordination