Mercuric acetate is used as an oxidizing agent in organic synthesis. It is used in oxymercuration of double bonds. Mercuric acetate is used in non-aqueous titration. It is employed in the manufacture of phenyl mercury compounds which have pharmaceutical applications. It removes the acetamidomethyl protecting group from protected thiol, and converts thiocarbonate esters into dithiocarbonates. It promotes the addition of hydroxide and alkoxide across carbon-carbon double bonds.

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