Synthesis and crystal structure determination of the bicyclic [bis(μ-P,N-1-benzyl-2-imidazolyl-diphenylphosphine) (μ-O,O′-diperchlorate)dimercury(II)][diperchlorate]

In the attempt to test the oxidizing capability of group 12 perchlorate salts in the regards of phosphane ligands, the 1:1 molar ratio reactions between a donor P, N phosphane ligand (1-benzyl-2-imidazolyl-diphenylphosphine, L) and the respective salts have been performed. In all the cases no ligand oxidation was observed while the metal complexation was highlighted. The species L2M2(ClO4)4 was formed with an increasing predominance from Cd<Zn<Hg. The complex L3M(ClO4)2 was the only solid product isolated in the case of cadmium and the predominant species in solution both for zinc and cadmium reactions. The crystal structure of [bis(μ-P,N-1-benzyl-2-imidazolyl-diphenylphosphine)(μ-O,O′-diperchlorate)dimercury(II)][diperchlorate] shows two centrosymmetric Hg atoms as a part of an eight member cycle formed by two bridging (Bzim)Ph2P ligands coordinated in a head-to-tail mode with P and N as donor atoms. Each Hg atom interacts with the oxygen atoms of two symmetry related molecules of ClO 4 − that bridge the metal centres forming a second eight member cycle, roughly normal to the first one.