3-(Aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoates of mercury(II) and phenylmercury(II)

The reactions of some 3-(aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acids (H2L) with mercury(II) acetate and diisopropylamine (Q), afford complexes of the type [HQ]2[Hg(L)2], in which the Hg atom has an unusual HgO2S2 coordination kernel; the same reactions with phenylmercury(II) give compounds of the type [HQ][PhHg(L)], also with an unusual HgCOS kernel.