CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF THE SUPRAMOLECULAR MERCURY(II) CHLORIDE THIOCYANATE HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE ADDUCT HG(SCN)(2)CENTER-DOT-2HGCL2-CENTER-DOT-2C6H12N4

Crystals of the adduct Hg(SCN)(2).2HgCl(2).2C(6)H(12)N(4) were obtaine d from an aqueous solution containing 0.1 mol/l hexamethylenetetramine and 0.05 mol/l potassium thiocyanate and mercury(II) chloride. The co mpound crystallizes monoclinically; space group P2(1)/n, a = 767.3(4), b = 1854.7(7), c = 872.5(7) pm, and beta = 101.48(5)degrees. The stru cture consists of a network of chains -Cl-Hg-Cl-Hg- and -(Cl-Hg-)(2)NC S-Hg-SCN-(Hg-Cl)(2)- which share common Hg atoms and form distorted he xagonal and trigonal channels. The hexamethylenetetramine molecules li e in the hexagonal channels. They act as mu(3) bridging ligands, formi ng bonds to two Hg atoms in a given layer, and an additional bond to a Hg atom a neigh bouring layer.