Bis(n-pentanethiolato)mercury(II), Hg(SC5H11)(2) - Preparation, characterization, crystal and molecular structure; Reactivity towards organic thiols

The preparation of bis(n-pentanethiolato)mercury(II), Hg(SC5H11)(2), and n- pentanethiolato-mercury(II) iodide, IHgSC5H11, starting from HgI2 and n-pen tanethiol, is presented, the X-ray crystal structure determination of Hg(SC 5H11)(2) reveals a layered structure of the bis(thiolate) molecule. With 17 8.69(1.02)degrees the S-Hg-S moiety is nearly linear. The Hg-S bond length is shorter then the sum of the covalent radii of sulphur and mercury atoms indicating a primary co-ordination number of two, which is supported by the IR and Raman spectra. Assignments of nu(sym)(Hg-S) and nu(asym)(Hg-S) are given. The mass spectrum reveals the title compound to be monomeric in the gas phase. Melting and thermal decomposition have been investigated by DTA methods. The behaviour towards organic thiols is discussed. In addition, IR and Raman spectroscopic data of IHgSC5H11 are presented and discussed.