Formation and structural characterization of mercury complexes from Te(R)CH2SiMe3 (R = Ph, CH2SiMe3) and HgCl2

The reaction of HgCl2 and Te(R)CH2SiMe3 [R = CH2SiMe3 (1), Ph (2)] in ethanol yielded a mononuclear complex [HgCl2{Te(R)CH2SiMe3}2] (R = Ph, 3a; R = CH2SiMe3, 3b). The recrystallization of 3a or 3b from CH2Cl2 produced a dinuclear complex [Hg2Cl2(μ-Cl)2{Te(R)CH2SiMe3}2] (R = Ph, 4a; R = CH2SiMe3, 4b). When 3a was dissolved in CH2Cl2, the solvent quickly removed, and the solid recrystallized from EtOH, a stable ionic [HgCl{Te(Ph)CH2SiMe3}3]Cl·2EtOH (5a·2EtOH) was obtained. Crystals of [HgCl2{Te(CH2SiMe)2}]·2HgCl2·CH2Cl2 (6b·2HgCl2·CH2Cl2) were obtained from the CH2Cl2 solution of 3b upon prolonged standing. The complex formation was monitored by 125Te-, and 199Hg NMR spectroscopy, and the crystal structures of the complexes were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography.