1:1 and 1:2 Complexes of Mercury(II) Halides with 1,3-Thiazolidine-2-thione. Spectral, Thermal, and Crystal Structure Studies

The series of compounds of the general formulae HgX₂(tzdtH) and HgX₂(tzdtH)₂ (X = Cl, Br, I; tzdtH = 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione) have been prepared, as well as Hg(tzdt)₂. IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectral data of the complexes indicate thione donation, which is confirmed by the crystal structure analyses of HgBr₂(tzdtH)]₂, HgI₂(tzdtH)]₂, and HgI₂(tzdtH)₂. The structures of HgBr₂(tzdtH)]₂ and HgI₂(tzdtH)]₂ consist of centrosymmetric doubly bridged dimers, but they are not isostructural. The asymmetry in the HgX₂Hg bridge is more pronounced in the bromo than in the iodo derivative S–Hg–X(terminal) is 138.19(9)° for X = Br and 123.49(10)° for X = I], which is accompanied by the stronger Hg–S covalent bond in the bromo than in the iodo complex 2.435(4) vs. 2.510(3) Å]. The Hg–X(bridging) (X = Br, I) bond distances are shorter than the sum of van der Waals radii for mercury and X. Dimeric centrosymmetric complex units are held together only by van der Waals forces in HgI₂(tzdtH)]₂, while in HgBr₂(tzdtH)]₂ there is an intramolecular hydrogen bond of N–H Br type (3.34(1) Å). HgI₂(tzdtH)₂ exists as a mononuclear tetrahedral complex with two long Hg–S 2.672(1) Å] and two short Hg–I bond distances 2.688(1) Å] related by a twofold axis. The molecules of HgI₂(tzdtH)₂ are linked into infinite chains along the c axis by intermolecular N–H S 3.38(1) Å] hydrogen bonds.