Synthesis and molecular structure of the twelve-membered metallamacrocycle [Hg2(μ-2,6-dapy)2] (2,6-dapyH2 = 2,6-diacetamidopyridine)

The 12-membered metallamacrocycle, [Hg2(μ-2,6-dapy)2], is formed in high yields and the crystal structure shows that two 2,6-dapy dianions bridge the dimercury centre being bound through the amide nitrogens. The metallamacrocycles form a coordination polymer with each mercury centre being weakly coordinated to two oxygen atoms of neighboring 2,6-dapy ligands.