The structures of three Hg2X4L2macrocycles {X= Cl, Br and I, andL= 1,2-bis[4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenoxy]ethane} assembled from ether-bridged dipyridyl ligands

Abstract

The new ether-bridged dipyridyl ligand 1,2-bis[4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenoxy]ethane (L) has been used to synthesize three isostructural centrosymmetric binuclear Hg(II) macrocycles, namely bis{μ-1,2-bis[4-(pyridin-3-yl)phenoxy]ethane-κ(2)N:N'}bis[dichloridomercury(II)], [Hg(2)Cl(4)(C(24)H(20)N(2)O(2))(2)], and the bromido, [Hg(2)Br(4)(C(24)H(20)N(2)O(2))(2)], and iodido, [Hg(2)I(4)(C(24)H(20)N(2)O(2))(2)], analogues. The Hg atoms adopt a highly distorted tetrahedral coordination environment consisting of two halides and two pyridine N-donor atoms from two bridging ligands. In the solid state, the macrocycles form two-dimensional sheets in the bc plane through noncovalent Hg...X and X...X (X = Cl, Br and I) interactions.