The novel 1D chain and 3D network of mercury carborane-diphenylphosphine complexes constructed by covalent bond or hydrogen bond interactions

► Two new Hg carborane diphosphine complexes containing closo or nido diphosphine ligand. ► Complex 1 forms novel 1D chains depending on the Hg-Cl bonds acting as bridges. ► Complex 2 forms 3D networks under the help of the hydrogen bonds and C-H...H-B dihydrogen bonds. ► The polarity of the solvent has obvious influence on the structure of the complexes. ► The C-H…H-B dihydrogen bonds play very important role in constructing the different structure of the carborane complexes.