Reactions of thioether carboxylic acids with mercury(II). Formation and X-ray crystal structure of mercury(II) mercaptoacetate

Reactions of Hg(II) salts with thioether carboxylic acids o-C6H4[CH(SCH2COOH)2]2 (1a) and PhCH(SCH2COOH)2 (3) in water were found to lead to the decomposition of these ligands with the formation of mercury(II) mercaptoacetate Hg(SCH2COOH)2 (2) and aldehydes o-C6H4(CHO)2 and PhCHO, respectively. A similar reaction was observed between Hg(NO3)2 and CH3(CH2)2CH(SCH2COOH)2 (4). The X-ray structure of Hg(SCH2COOH)2 (2) shows a linear –S–Hg–S– moiety. The mechanism of the formation of 2 in the reactions between Hg2+ and thioether carboxylic acids in water is discussed.