ðə fˈɜːst sˈʌtʃ ɹɪˈækʃən, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ ɐ mˌɜːkjɚɹˈeɪʃən ʌv bˈɛnziːn ɪtsˈɛlf, wʌz ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾᵻd baɪ ˈɑːɾoʊ dˈɪmɹɑːθ bᵻtwˌiːn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt ænd nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd tˈuː.
The first such reaction, including a mercuration of benzene itself, was reported by Otto Dimroth between 1898 and 1902.