Methylmercury(II) and phenylmercury(II) chelated complexes with the ligandtris(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phosphine: synthesis, X-ray diffraction and NMR studies

The reaction of methyl and phenylmercury ions with the ligand tris(2-diphen ylphosphinoethyl)phosphine, pp,, allowed the isolation of the complexes [(p p(3))HgR]BF4 (R = Me, Ph). The X-ray crystal structure of the methyl deriva tive established that in the cation the metal atom is coordinated to the ce ntral phosphorus atom of the tripod pp(3) ligand and to the methyl group. T wo terminal phosphorus atoms of the ligand are additionally linked to the m etal throught secondary bonding interactions. P-31- and Hg-199-NMR spectra indicated that the coordination of terminal phosphorus atoms of pp, to the mercury atom occurs also in solution. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All ri ghts reserved.