Interaction of methylmercury(II) with the bifunctional ligand o-diphenylphosphinobenzoate, dpb. Synthesis and characterization of [(dpb)HgMe] and [(dpbo)HgMe], dpbo=o-diphenylphosphinoxidebenzoate

Abstract The complex [(dpb)HgMe] (1) is obtained by reaction of MeHg(OH) with o-diphenylphosphinobenzoic acid (Hdpb); alternatively the solvate [(dpb)HgMe] · 0.5H2O · 0.5C5H5N (1bis) can be prepared by reacting MeHgCl with Hdpb and pyridine. The derivative [(dpbo)HgMe] (2), where dpbo is o-diphenylphosphinoxidebenzoate, is formed by reaction of 1 or 1bis solutions with atmospheric oxygen. Crystal data for 1bis: monoclinic, space group P2/n, a=10.413(4), b=9.831(3), c=20.674(3) A, β=102.51(3)°, Z=2. Crystal data for 2: triclinic, space group P1, a=11.535(2), b=12.897(5), c=13.275(7) A, α=88.31(4), β=73.65(4), γ=85.27(4)°, Z=2. In 1bis the mercury atom displays a distorted linear fashion, bei…