Intramolecular Co-ordination by a Hydroxy-group to Methylmercury(II). Synthesis and Characterization of Complexes [HgMe(L)]N03 containing Polydentate Ligands (L), and the Crystal Structure of the Tris(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methanol Complex

Methylmercury(II) nitrate forms cationic complexes [HgMe(L)]NO3, [L = bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methanol, bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)(pyridin-2-yl)methanol, or tris(N-methylimidazol-2-y1)methanol(tmm)]. The crystal structure of [HgMe(tmm)]NO3 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 295 K and refined by least-squares methods to R = 0.041 for 2453 'observed' reflections. The [HgMe(tmm)]+ cations have one N-methylimidazol-2-yl group co-ordinated to mercury, with Hg-N 2.125(7) A and C-Hg-N angle 176.1(5), together with an additional weak intramolecular Hg...OH interaction [2.680(6) A]. Comparison of the 1H n.m.r. spectra of the complexes with those of related complexes does not permit assignment of the co-ordination mode of the ligands, although multidentate co-ordination is indicated.