Multidentate Lewis acids. Crystal structure of the 1:1 complex of dichloro-1,2-phenylenedimercury with dimethylformamide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00144a028

The 1:1 complex was obtained by slow recrystallization of dichloro-1,2-phenylenedimercury from dimethylformamide. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, with a = 9.275 (6) ?, b = 16.086 (6) ?, c = 8.634 (9) ?, β = 91.02 (6)°, and Z = 4. The structure was refined on 1583 nonzero Mo Kα? reflections collected at 175 K to R = 0.040. The unit cell contains discrete 1:1 molecules. The oxygen-bonded dimethylformamide bridges the two Hg atoms of the dichloro-1,2-phenylenedimercury molecule. The bound dimethylformamide is planar and lies perpendicular to the aromatic ring, close to the approximate mirror plane bisecting the ring. The oxygen donor lies above the plane containing the two -Hg-Cl substituents, and the Hg?O distances (2.777 (13) and 2.681 (13) ?) correspond to moderately strong secondary bonds with the metal. The structure is stabilized by a number of intermolecular Hg?Cl contacts.