Crystal structure of (DL-methioninato)methylmercury(II)

Abstract

The synthesis of (DL-methioninato)methylmercury(II) from methylmercury hydroxide and DL-methionine is described. Crystals of the title compound are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with a= 7.048(9), b= 5.826(4), c= 25.323(53)Å, β= 93.2(2)°, Z= 4. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method by use of 1 027 observed diffractometer-measured reflections and refined to R 0.099. The amino-acid is bound to the methylmercury moiety via the amino-group. Important metal–ligand distances are: Hg–N 2.06(4) and Hg–C(6) 2.11(5)Å. Two additional weak interactions to carboxylate oxygen atoms are present. The vibrational spectra and n.m.r. spectra are discussed in the light of the solid-state structure and previous deductions concerning the Interaction of methionine with inorganic and organo-mercury compounds.