Synthesis and structural characterization of a binary metal cluster and a coordination polymer based on the mercury Bis(phenylselenolate) unit

The versatile coordination chemistry of the Bis(phenylselenolate) (Hg(SePh)2) with Hg(SCN)2 salt allows the synthesis of a cluster and a 2D coordination polymer. The reaction at low temperature in dimethylformamide (dmf) affords single crystals containing neutral clusters with the formula [Hg8S(SCN)2(SePh)12(dmf)2] (1). Then, the 2D coordination polymer [Hg(SCN)(SePh)] (2) is obtained in comparable yielding. The use of bis(2-pyridylthio)methane as secondary ligand significantly improves the synthesis of 2, since it is synthesized at room temperature, in a short time and in a good yield. The effects of the weak interactions in the crystal packing were also analyzed.

Graphical abstractThe versatile coordination chemistry of the Bis(phenylselenolate) (Hg(SePh)2) with Hg(SCN)2 salt allows the synthesis of a cluster and a 2D coordination polymer. The reaction at low temperature in dimethylformamide (dmf) affords single crystals containing neutral clusters with the formula [Hg8S(SCN)2(SePh)12(dmf)2] (1). Then, the 2D coordination polymer [Hg(SCN)(SePh)] (2) is obtained in comparable yielding. The use of bis(2-pyridylthio)methane as secondary ligand significantly improves the synthesis of 2, since it is synthesized at room temperature, in a short time and in a good yield. The effects of the weak interactions in the crystal packing were also analyzed.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide