Synthesis, characterization, and structural studies of mercury(II) complexes of new bidentate phosphorus ylide

The reaction of Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2 with BrCH2C(O)C6H4NO2 affords a mixture of both the mono- and diphosphonium salt simultaneously. The reaction of mercury(II) halides with [Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2CHC(O)C6H4NO2] yielded P,P-coordinated complexes. The result of theoretical study showed that the experimentally determined structure of the complex {HgI2(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2CHC(O)C6H4NO2)2} (7) is more stable than its potential geometrical isomers.