Methyl- and phenylmercury(II) complexes of 5-(4 '-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanine (HDABRd) and 5-(2 '-thiophenomethylene)rhodanine (HTRd). The crystal and molecular structure of [HgPh(DABRd)] and [HgMe(TRd)]

The reactions of 5-(4'-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanine (HDABRd) and 5-(2 '-thiophenomethylene)rhodanine (HTRd) with methyl- and phenylmercury(II) ac etate yielded [HgR(DABRd)] and [HgR(TRd)] (R = Me, Ph), respectively. These complexes were characterized and studied by IR and NMR (H-1,C-13{H-1} and Hg-199) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry, respectively. In both struc tures the rhodanine ligand coordinates to the mercury atom via its N(3) ato m, and Hg-C(13) and Hg-N(3) are almost collinear. The mercury atom also for ms intra- and intermolecular secondary bonds. In particular, an Hg . . .S b ond associates the [HgPh(DABRd)] molecules in zig-zag chains parallel to th e b axis, and an Hg . . .O bond links the [HgMe(TRd)] molecules in centrosy mmetric dimers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.