Polymeric μ‐bromo‐μ‐pyridine‐3‐carboxyl­ato‐κ3O,O′:N‐mercury(II)

The asymmetric unit of the title polymeric complex, HgBr(C₆H₄NO₂)]_n or HgBr(nic), contains mercury coordinated via two Br atoms Hg—Br = 2.6528 (9) and 2.6468 (9) Å], two carboxyl­ate O atoms, which form a characteristic four‐membered chelate ring Hg—O = 2.353 (6) and 2.478 (7) Å], and an N atom Hg—N = 2.265 (5) Å], in the form of a very irregular (3+2)‐coordination polyhedron. The pronounced irregularity of the effective Hg (3+2)‐coordination is a result of the rigid stereochemistry of the nicotinate ligand. According to the covalent and van der Waals radii criteria, the strongest bonds are Hg—Br and Hg—N. These covalent interactions form a two‐dimensional poly­mer. The puckered planes are connected by van der Waals interactions, and there are only two intermolecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds 3.428 (10) and 3.170 (10) Å].