Insertion of mercury into iron-iodine bonds leading to dinuclear (Fe-Hg) mixed isonitrile-phosphine complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(94)87276-7

The binuclear complexes trans- (R=Ph, 4-MeC6H4, or t-Bu), trans- (R=Ph or 4-MeC6H4), and mer- (R=Ph or 4-MeC6H4) were obtained by the reaction of metallic mercury with in the presence of phosphines such as PPh3, Ph2PCH2PPh2 (dppm) and Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2 (dppe); this process yields adducts of the Lewis acid HgI2 with the metallic bases FeL(CNR)4 (L=PPh3 or dppm-P) or Fe(dppe)(CNR)3 .Spectroscopic data and conductivity measurements suggest a sequence for the strength of these metallic fragments acting as bases.Key words: Iron; Mercury; Isonitrile; Phosphine