Building Hg(II)/Cu(I) multinuclear compounds from mercury bis(phenylselenolate)

In this article we present the syntheses and characterization of multinuclear compounds [HgCu2X2(SePh)2(PPh3)4] (1) (X = Cl(a), Br(b), I(c)) and [Hg6Cu4(SePh)16] (2) starting with the compound Hg(SePh)2. The reaction of Hg(SePh)2 with CuX (X = Cl, Br, I) derivatives results in the trinuclear complexes 1(a–c) and in the cluster complex 2. The compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffractometry, elemental analysis, infrared and UV–vis spectroscopy. These results were correlated with data calculated by DFT – Density Functional Theory calculations.

Graphical abstractSyntheses and characterization of multinuclear compounds [HgCu2X2(SePh)2(PPh3)4] (X = Cl, Br, I) and [Hg6Cu4(SePh)16].Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Trinuclear bimetallic complexes and a multinuclear cluster. ► Mutinuclear compounds from mercury bis(phenylselenolate). ► Multinuclear selenolate complexes.