Chemical transformations of polymers. XVIII. Mercury‐complexing polymers with pendent thiol groups. Preparation and medical uses

Poly(vinyltoluene‐α‐thiol) and poly(1‐methacryloyloxyethane‐2‐thiol) were prepared by the polymeranalogous hydrolysis of the respective polymeric isothiuronium salts. The sorption of heavy metals from low‐concentrated solutions was studied for both thiol polymers. Affinity increases in the series Pb < Ag < Hg in experiments in vitro. In vivo the mercury resorption in the gastrointestinal tract of rats was partly blocked by the methacrylate derivative if mercuric chloride or methylmercurichloride was administered (in the case of phenylmercurichloride the polymeric thiol was ineffective).