Complexation of DMF and DMSO by a Monodentate Organomercurial Lewis Acid

When crystallized from DMSO or DMF, pentafluorophenylmercury chloride (1) forms the Lewis acid−Lewis base adducts 1·DMSO (2) and (1)2·DMF (3), respectively. These adducts have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, 13C CP/MAS NMR (3) and X-ray single-crystal structure analysis. Compound 2 is a T-shaped complex. In the crystal, the individual molecules of 2 aggregate through formation of Hg2Cl2 bridges to form a ladder polymer. Compound 3 crystallizes with four independent molecules of 1 and two independent molecules of DMF in the asymmetric unit. While all molecules are part of a complex framework formed by Hg2Cl2 bridges, three molecules of 1 are involved in the binding of two formamide molecules, which form bridges between adjacent mercury centers.