X-Ray crystal and molecular structure of phenyl(triphenylphosphine)-mercury(II) nitrate

Abstract

Reaction of phenylmercury(II) nitrate with triphenylphosphine in dry ethanol gives the adduct [HgPh(PPh₃)]NO₃ whose structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with unit-cell parameters a= 13.119(5), b= 10.529(2), c= 16.233(4)Å, and β= 102.79(1)°. The geometry about mercury(II) is nearly T-shaped with P–Hg–C(Ph) 167.5(2)°. The Hg–P distance of 2.431(2)Å indicates strong interaction and there is weak interaction between mercury and the nitrate oxygen atoms. This complex represents the first structurally characterized organomercury(II) complex with a tertiary phosphine.