Crystal structure determination of the complexes of trimethylammonium chloride and mercury(II) chloride: (CH3)3NHHgCl3, {(CH3)3NH}2HgCl4, and(CH3)3NHHg2Cl5

Abstract

Abstract The crystal structures have been determined of (CH3)3NHHgCl3, {(CH3)3NH}2HgCl4 and (CH3)3NHHg2Cl5. In {(CH3)3NH}2HgCl4 a heavily distorted HgCl4 2− tetrahedron is found with HgCl bonds ranging from 2.427(2) to 2.574(2) Å. (CH3)3NHHgCl3 has two independent Hg atoms. One has two short HgCl bonds and four long ones, the other one two short and two long HgCl bonds. Of the two independent Hg atoms in (CH3)3NHHg2Cl5 one has two short HgCl bonds and four long HgCl bonds. The other one has a trigonal bipyramidal coordination. The great variety of Hg – Cl bonds is discussed in terms of correlation diagrams. Each of the cations is involved in one N – H … Cl hydrogen bond, with N … Cl distances ranging from 3.236(6) to 3.325(6) Å.