Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 15, 2026

Combining Solid-state and Solution-based Techniques: Synthesis and Reactivity of Chalcogenidoplumbates(II or IV)
Published on: December 29, 2016
Polynuclear chloromercurate(II) systems in their chloropyridinium salts
1Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland. alinden@oci.unizh.ch
Abstract:
The chloromercurate(II) salts of 2-, 3- and 4-chloropyridine display a variety of anion stoichiometries and structures, including the rare [Hg(3)Cl(10)](4-) stoichiometry. 2-Chloropyridinium trichloromercurate(II), (I), (C(5)H(5)ClN)[HgCl(3)], monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 9.094 (8), b = 18.143 (4), c = 12.902 (3) Å, beta = 106.13 (4) degrees with Z = 8, has the [HgCl(3)](-) stoichiometry, but the anions are infinite chains composed of [HgCl(3)](-), HgCl(2) and Cl(-) moieties linked by longer Hg.Cl contacts. Hydrogen bonds link the cations to the formal Cl(-) ions. Tetrakis(3-chloropyridinium) decachlorotrimercurate(II), (II), (C(5)H(5)ClN)(4)[Hg(3)Cl(10)], monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 7.522 (2), b = 28.046 (3), c = 9.165 (2) Å, beta = 105.78 (2) degrees with Z = 2, has the rare [Hg(3)Cl(10)](4-) stoichiometry and contains infinite one-dimensional double-stranded {([HgCl(4)](2-))(2) [HgCl(2)]}(n) anionic chains made up of linear HgCl(2) and distorted [HgCl(4)](2-) entities linked together by longer Hg.Cl contacts. The HgCl(2) moieties are joined by double [HgCl(4)](2-) bridges. Hydrogen bonds link the cations to the sides of the anionic columns. Tetrakis(4-chloropyridinium) decachlorotrimercurate(II), (III), (C(5)H(5)ClN)(4)[Hg(3)Cl(10)], triclinic, P1;, a = 9.907 (3), b = 13.226 (2), c = 7.282 (2) Å, alpha = 84.41 (2), beta = 74.81 (2), gamma = 87.34 (2) degrees with Z = 1, also has the [Hg(3)Cl(10)](4-) stoichiometry and the same type of {([HgCl(4)](2-))(2)[HgCl(2)]}(n) anionic chains that were found in compound (II), but the formal HgCl(2) and [HgCl(4)](2-) moieties are more discrete with much weaker contacts linking the individual units. Bifurcated hydrogen bonds with the cations cross-link the anionic chains to form an infinite two-dimensional network. Second forms of the 3- and 4-chloropyridinium salts were also obtained. 3-Chloropyridinium trichloromercurate(II), (IV), (C(5)H(5)ClN)[HgCl(3)], monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 7.243 (5), b = 22.145 (8), c = 12.320 (3) Å, beta = 99.52 (3) degrees with Z = 8, has the [HgCl(3)](-) stoichiometry, but the anions are infinite chains composed of distorted [Hg(2)Cl(6)](2-) moieties. Bifurcated hydrogen bonds from the cations cross-link the anionic chains to form infinite two-dimensional layers. Bis(4-chloropyridinium) hexachlorodimercurate(II), (V), (C(5)H(5)ClN)(2)[Hg(2)Cl(6)], monoclinic, C2/m, a = 13.447 (3), b = 7.534 (2), c = 9.939 (2) Å, beta = 97.48 (2) degrees with Z = 2, contains highly symmetrical discrete [Hg(2)Cl(6)](2-)anions. Bifurcated hydrogen bonds from the cations interconnect the anions to form infinite one-dimensional chains.
More Related Videos
08:46Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of Phosphorus(I)
Published on: November 22, 2016
06:35Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Photosystems
Functioning of Photosystems
Photosystems contain many pigment molecules, such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, arranged in a particular organization across two domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Photosystem II
The pigment molecules are arranged across two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...
Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...