[2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenyl] as a ligand towards mercury

The diorganomercurial bis[2-(NN-dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenyl]mercury(II), (FcN)(2)Hg (3), can be obtained by the symmetrisation of the heteroleptic (FcN)HgCl (2) with Na2S2O3 or in the transmetallation reaction of 2 with (F cN)Li. By crystallisation only the crystals of rac-(FcN)(2)Hg were obtained . X-ray diffraction analysis revealed linear coordinated mercury atom with two eta (1)-bonded FcN ligands. Additionally, weak chelate interactions exi st between mercury and nitrogen atoms of the -CH2NMe2 side chains. Accordin g to the H-1-NMR findings, these interactions are not preserved in solution . Diorganomercurial 3 appears in solution as a mixture of two diastereomers with rac/meso-(FcN)(2)Hg ratio of 1:1. This diastereomeric ratio in soluti on remains constant within a wide temperature range and in different solven ts. The NMR spectroscopic data of the heteroleptic organomercurials [(FcN)H gCl](2).H2O (1) and (FcN)HgCl (2) indicate the chelate-free structure of th is compounds in solution within the studied temperature interval (- 80 to 9 0 degreesC). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.