Aquanitrilotris(methylenephosphonato)bis(dimercury(I)) Hydrate, [(Hg2)2(H2O) N(CH2PO3)3H2]•H2O: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties

A reaction of dimercury(I) dinitrate with nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid), N(CH2PO3)(3)H-6, gave the complex [(Hg-2)(2)(H2O){N(CH2PO3)(3)H-2}] center dot H2O. The crystals of the complex are triclinic, space group P (1) over bar Z = 2, a = 8.3436(3), b = 9.0744(3), c = 11.1124(4) angstrom, a = 91.875(3)degrees, beta= 104.452(3)degrees, gamma = 92.195(3)degrees (CIF file CCDC no. 1051860). The atoms of either dimercury cation are coordinated differently, making up a distorted tetrahedron and a distorted trigonal bipyramid. The ligand is coordinated to the Hg atoms through seven donor atoms: six (out of nine) O atoms and a N atom. The coordination involves the formation of chelate rings: two four-membered, three five-membered, a six-membered, and an eight-membered ring.