Synthesis and X-ray structure of the first chloro-bridged thiourea mercury(II) complex [C6H5C(OCH3)NC(S)N(C2H5)2HgCl2]2

The complex bis{(μ-chloro)-chloro-[(N-diethylaminothiocarbonyl)benzimido-O-methyl ester-S]mercury(II)} was prepared by the reaction of HgCl2 with N-(diethylaminothiocarbonyl)benzimido-O-methyl ester. The compound has been characterised by FAB mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. The dimeric structure was established crystallographically: space group P-1, a=9.3296(4), b=9.5298(2), c=11.4615(2) Å, α=71.9930(10), β=88.8600(10), γ=65.0150(10)°, Z=1. Each mercury atom takes a tetragonal distorted geometry and is coordinated by two bridging chloride atoms, one terminal chloride atom and one thiocarbonyl sulfur atom of the ligand. The compound is the first example of a chloro-bridged mercury(II) complex of a ligand with a thiourea moiety; the bridge can be designated as symmetric.