Synthesis and crystal structures of mono-, bis- as well as tris-mercurated complexes with ferrocenylazines

The mono-(cyclomercurated) complex (2) and bis-(cyclomercurated) complexes (3) as well as the first example of a tris-mercurated ferrocenylimine (4) have been conveniently prepared from the reaction of ferrocenylazines (1) with Hg(OAc)2 and subsequent treatment with LiCl. All the new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR and IR spectra. X-ray single crystal analysis confirms that complex 2 exists as a tetramer in the crystal due to intermolecular bridged Cl–Hg bonds and weak intermolecular N–Hg coordination. While 3b and 4 have a one-dimensional chain structure formed by intermolecular bridged Cl–Hg bonds and CH(Cp)⋯Cl hydrogen bonds.