Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: January 8, 2016
Synthesis, characterization and structures of methylmercury complexes with selenoamino acids
Mohammad A K Khan1, Abu Md Asaduzzaman, Georg Schreckenbach
1Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
Abstract:
Four new methylmercury-selenoamino acid complexes were synthesized, including methylmercury-L-selenoglutathionate, methylmercury-D,L-selenopenicillaminate, and two methylmercury-L-selenomethioninate complexes (one via a Hg-Se bonding and the other Hg-N bonding). All the complexes were characterized by NMR ((1)H, (13)C, (77)Se and (199)Hg), FT-IR and mass spectra. Their molecular structures were established by single crystal X-ray crystallography (for the Hg-N bonding methylmercury-L-selenomethioninate) and by quantum mechanical calculations using Gaussian-03 with the hybrid functional B3LYP/SDD. All four complexes were found to chemically and structurally resemble their sulfur analogues, with a slightly stronger binding affinity of Hg to Se than to S, suggesting chemical and structural mimicry might play a role in methylmercury-selenium antagonism in biological systems.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
Structure of Amines
Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine and Enamine Formation Overview
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

