METHYLMERCURY AND PHENYLMERCURY COMPLEXES OF AZAINDOLYL-AZAINDOLE

Neutral compounds of the type RHg(aza-aza), where R=CH3 and C6H5, were obtained by reacting RHgOH with azaindolyl-azaindole (Haza-aza) in me thanol. The crystal structures of both compounds were determined: C6H5 Hg(aza-aza) . CH3OH, triclinic, P (1) over bar, a=8.328(2), 6=9.791(3) , c=11.81(3) Angstrom, alpha=98.02(2), beta=92.03(2), gamma=89.94(2)de grees Z=2, R=0.059; CH3Hg(aza-aza) CH3OH, triclinic, P (1) over bar, a =8.603(2), b=9.988(3), c=10.582(4) Angstrom, alpha=70.27(3), beta=77.0 5(3), gamma=65.71 (2)degrees, Z=2, R=0.038. In both cases, the RHg+ un it has displaced the acidic N-H proton of the five-membered ring. The linearly coordinated metal is approximately coplanar with the ring and the dihedral angle between the two azaindole units is similar to 67 d egrees. Attempts to react CH3HgNO3 and introduce a CH3Hg+ group withou t deprotonation on either the free ligand or the CH3Hg(aza-aza) comple x failed. These charged species are apparently disfavored by the poor solubility of the neutral molecules.