Mercury halides iodide, structure

Addition of excess iodide to the insoluble Hgl2 results in the formation of soluble mercury iodo complex [Hgl3] , with a trigonal planar structure. The ion is solvated in water and converts to a tetrahedral structure. Further, addition of H leads to tetrahedral [Hg ] ". Reaction of iodide salts with Hg can be used to produce mercury iodo complexes. Other halide and pseudohalides also form [HgXj] and [HgX4] . The tetrahalo anions see Anion) are usually tetrahedral, while the trihalo ions readily add solvent molecules to form distorted tetrahedral or Trigonal Bipyramidal structures. 

These systems exhibit considerable affinity for halide anions. X-ray analysis ascertained the formation of an anionic 2 1 chloride adduct of (1) where the chloride is simultaneously bound by four mercury atoms. In the crystal structures of (2) Cl and (2) l2, the anions are located within the macrocycle and complexed cooperatively by the four mercury(II) centers. Several anionic complexes of (3), including bromide, iodide, and thiocyanide salts, have been isolated. The compounds adopt multidecker stmctures with the hexacoordinated anions effectively sandwiched between two successive molecules of (3). The Lewis acidity of perfluoro-ortAo-phenylenemercury (3) has also been substantiated by its ability to form stable adducts with neutral substrates (HMPA, DMSO, ethyl acetate, and acetonitrile) and arenes. The (3) -CeHe adduct exists as extended stacks of nearly parallel, staggered molecules of (3), which sandwich benzene molecules. Similar structures have been reported for the corresponding adducts with biphenyl, naphthalene, pyrene, and triphenylene. 

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