Interaction of the methylmercury cation with glycine and alanine: a vibrational and X-ray diffraction study

Abstract

The complexes (CH3Hg)Gly, (CH3Hg)(L-Ala), and (CH3Hg)(DL-Ala) were prepared by reacting CH3HgOH with glycine (HGly) and alanine (HAla). Crystals of (CH3Hg)(DL-Ala) are monoclinic, space group P21/c, a = 9.460(2), b = 8.794(2), c = 8.723(2) Å, β = 97.49(2)°, Z = 4. The structure was refined on 935 MoKα reflections to R = 0.042. The complex results from displacement of an alanine NH3+ proton by the CH3Hg+ ion, which is linearly bonded to the —NH2 group. An intramolecular Hg … O contact of 2.63 Å is also formed with a carboxylate oxygen. The Raman and infrared spectra of solid (CH3Hg)Gly and (CH3Hg)(L-Ala) are compared with those of the ligands. Raman spectra of aqueous solutions at different pH indicate that the NH2-bonded structure is retained in solution, although no complexation via the carboxylate occurs.