Phosphine with HgCl

P. Biginelli 5 observed that phosphine unites with mercuric chloride to form a yellow mass and P. Lemoult observed the formation of an unstable intermediate product when phosphine acts on an aq. soln. of mercuric chloride and potassium chloride. If the gas be confined over the liquid and suddenly shaken, the resulting yellow precipitate can be dried in va.euo over sulphuric acid. Its composition corresponds with phosphorus triochloromercuriate, P(HgCl)3, or HgCl2.PHg2Cl. 

All the other half-sandwich complexes in this section derive from the chemistry of ReCp 03 and ReCp CL (136). Complex (136) forms an octahedral adduct ReCp Cl4(PMe3), but excess phosphine reduces it to ReCp Cl2(PMe3)2. Hydrolysis and aminolysis form ReCp OC and ReCp (NR)Cl2 respectively. Stepwise reductive dehalogenation with Al/HgCL... 

Another area of major interest in the field is that of mixed metal cluster systems. Hieber very early in the study of metal carbonyl chemistry was able to prepare mercury complexes of the type Fe(CO)4(HgCl)2. The related gold ° compounds were prepared in the 1960s by reaction of phosphine gold halides with carbonyl anions. 

---