On the reaction of methylmercuric hydroxide with methylbabalamin.

The methylmercury-induced dealkylation of the corrinoid coenzyme methylcobalamin, yielding aquocobalamin and dimethylmercury as products, was studied spectrophotometrically at 350 nm using water as a solvent. Rate data were determined for the pH 7-9 region and also at pH 3.37. Evidence is provided which shows that CH3Hg+ serves as the species which accepts the methyl group and also that Hg2+ is methylated more rapidly than CH3Hg+ is.