Products
Drugs containing phenylmercuriborate are no longer on the market in many countries. The active ingredient used to be included in the well-known disinfectant Merfen, which now contains chlorhexidine and benzoxonium chloride.
Structure and properties
Phenyl mercuriborate is a mixture of equimolar amounts of phenyl mercury(II) orthoborate and phenyl mercury(II) hydroxide or the dehydrated form, or a mixture of the first mixture and the metaborate. It exists as a white to slightly yellowish crystalline powder or as colorless, lustrous crystals. It is sparingly soluble in water.
Effects
Phenylmercuriborate is disinfectant.
Indications
As a mercury compound, phenyl mercuriborate is rarely used as a disinfectant today.
