Photometric titrations of mercury(II) based on UV-absorption of mercury(II)-complexes

Summary A method is described for the complexometric determination of traces of mercury(II) with EDTA, EGTA and DTPA, with photometric endpoint indication. Titrations with EDTA and EGTA appeared to be possible only if acetylacetone was added. The wavelength used in that case was 275 nm. With DTPA a direct titration is possible at 260 nm. At p_H 2 determinations of 2·10^–5 M mercury(II) are possible with good accuracy.

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Zusammenfassung Eine komplexometrische Bestimmung von Spuren Quecksilber(II) mit ÄDTA, ÄGTA und DTPA wurde beschrieben. Die Endpunktanzeige erfolgte photometrisch. Titrationen mit ÄDTA und ÄGTA waren nur möglich in Anwesenheit von Acetylaceton. In diesem Fall war die verwendete Wellenlänge 275 nm. Mit DTPA sind auch direkte Titrationen möglich bei 260 nm. Bei p_H 2 sind Analysen von 2·10^–5-m Lösungen mit guter Genauigkeit durchführbar.

     

Metallatriazadiphosphorines of zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II)

Metallatriazadiphosphorine complexes corresponding to [{N(PPh₂NR)₂}M(OAc)] and [{N(PPh₂NR)₂}₂M], (R = Ph or SiMe₃; M = Zn, Cd or Hg) have been synthesized under strictly anhydrous and inert conditions by the reaction of the acyclic bis-silylated phosphazene ligand, [HN(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂], or the bis-phenylated phosphazene ligand, [HN(PPh₂NPh)₂], with Zn, Cd and Hg acetate in 1:1 and 2:1 molar ratios. These complexes are highly soluble in common organic solvents, but unstable hydrolytically as well as thermally, even under reduced pressure. Molecular weight determinations in benzene indicated the monomeric nature of these complexes. Further, they have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral studies: i.r. and n.m.r. (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) that plausibly reveal a trigonal planar and tetrahedral geometry around the metal atom in the complexes.     

Thermal analysis of mercury(I) sulfate and mercury(II) sulfate

The thermal decomposition of mercury(I) and (II) sulfates has been investigated by thermogravimetry. The solid-state decomposition products have been characterized by infrared and Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and an X-ray diffraction method. It is concluded that mercury(I) sulfate decomposes in two steps, initially forming a mixture of metallic mercury and mercury(II) sulfate — the latter subsequently decomposes without forming a stable intermediate. The stoichiometry of disproportionation of mercury(I) sulfate and the thermal stability range of mercury(I) and mercury(II) sulfates have been established.

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Zusammenfassung Die thermische Zersetzung von Quecksilber(I) und (II)-sulfaten wurde durch Thermogravimetrie untersucht. Die Festphasen-Zersetzungsprodukte wurden durch Infrarot- und Ramanspektroskopie, Massenspektrometrie und Röntgendiffraktion charakterisiert. Es wurde gefolgert, dass Quecksilber(I)sulfat in zwei Stufen zersetzt wird, unter anfänglicher Bildung eines Gemisches von metallischem Quecksilber und Quecksilber(II)-sulfat, welches in der Folge ohne Bildung eines stabilen Zwischenproduktes zersetzt wird. Die Stöchiometrie der Disproportionierung des Quecksilber(I)sulfats und der Bereich der Thermostabilität der Quecksilber(I) und Quecksilber(II)sulfate wurden ermittelt.

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Résumé La décomposition thermique des sulfates de mercure(I) et de mercure(II) a été suivie par TG. On a caractérisé les produits de la décomposition en phase solide par spectroscopies infrarouge et Raman, spectrométrie de masse et diffraction des rayons X. On en a conclu que le sulfate de mercure(I) se décompose en deux étapes, formant initialement un mélange de mercure métallique et de sulfate de mercure(II), ce dernier se décomposant ensuite sans formation d'un intermédiaire stable. Les proportions stoechiométriques de la dismutation du sulfate de mercure(I) et de l'intervalle de stabilité thermique des sulfates de mercure(I) et de mercure(II) ont été établis.

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Electrochemical studies of mercury(II)

The reduction of Hg²⁺ is studied by linear sweep voltammetry, rotated disk electrode voltammetry, and chronoamperometry in a non-complexing medium at a vitreous carbon electrode (VCE). At the VCE which is completely free of any mercury deposit, the reduction of Hg²⁺ is found to be of first order, involving two electrons and reversible at slow sweep rates. When the VCE is partially covered with mercury droplets, the reduction mechanism is different and occurs in two steps. At the most active sites on the VCE where mercury droplets are formed during a previous cathodic sweep, Hg²⁺ undergoes disproportionation to Hg₂²⁺ which is subsequently reduced to Hg. The second step involves the simple two-electron, diffusion-controlled reduction of Hg²⁺ to Hg at the bare electrode surface.     

Crystal chemistry of mercury(I) and mercury(I, II) minerals

The crystal structures of 16 mercury(I)- and mercury(I, II)-containing minerals having (Hg-Hg)²⁺ groups are considered. The Hg-Hg and Hg-X bond lengths and the HgHgX angles (X = Cl, Br, I, O, S) are analyzed. A comparative crystal chemical analysis of the environment of Hg atoms is carried out. The Hg-Hg and Hg-X distances vary within 2.43-2.60 and 1.93-2.43 å, respectively; the angles defining the deviation of the X-Hg-Hg-X groups from linearity are from 146 to 177?. In most cases, the coordination environment of the mercury atoms involves the metal atom of the (Hg-Hg)²⁺ dumbbell and the X atom, but in several compounds the coordination number of the mercury atoms increases due to the additional atoms lying 2.5–3.5 å away. In terlinguaite and kuznetsovite, the Hg₃ triangle is rather unusual; in the latter mineral, the Hg-Hg bonds are lengthened to 2.64-2.70 å. The review covers structural data up to May 1997.     

Sulfadrug complexes of zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II)

Summary Zn^II, Cd^II and Hg^II complexes of sulfadrugs,viz., sulfathiazole, sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine and sulfamethazine were prepared and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic data. The complexes are insoluble and melt with decomposition. The drugs act as bidentate ligands yielding polymeric complexes except for the Zn^II(sulfamethazine) complex in which the drug is monodentate.     

Novel mercury(II) complexes of porphyrins

Treatment of octa-alkylporphyrins (e.g. 1–3) with mercury(II) acetate in methylene chloride and tetrahydrofuran affords novel complexes (4) containing two porphyrin rings layered between three Hg atoms. A new type of stereoisomerism in regularly substituted porphyrins (e.g. 1a, 2a) is identified; it is observed by NMR spectroscopy and occurs because two forms of the complex (4) are possible, depending upon which faces of the porphyrin molecule are turned in towards the central Hg atom. The NMR spectra also indicate that in concentrated solution the double sandwich complexes (4) are stable towards disproportionation and recombination. On the basis of the inherent geometrical arrangements in the complex (4), an efficient NMR method for unambiguous identification of the four primary type isomers of the aetio- and copro-porphyrin series is described.

In very dilute solution, or in mixtures containing nucleophilic solvents such as pyridine, methanol, dioxan, or tetrahydrofuran (in the absence of excess mercury(II) acetate), the double sandwich complexes (4) are destroyed to afford normal 1:1 metalloporphyrins.     

Fluorescent chemosensors for mercury(II) cations

The condensation of 4,5-dimethoxy-2-(morpholin-4-yl)aniline with anthracene-9-carbaldehyde gave N-(anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-4,5-dimethoxy-2-(morpholin-4-yl)aniline, a selective and efficient fluorescent chemosensor for mercury(II) cations.     

Bis(2-mercaptobenzoxazolato)mercury(II) and bis(2-pyridinethiolato)mercury(II) complexes as carriers for thiocyanate selective electrodes

Highly selective poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane electrodes based on bis(2-mercaptobenzoxazolato)mercury(II) [Hg(MBO)₂] and bis(2-pyridinethiolato)mercury(II) [Hg(PT)₂] complexes as new carriers for thiocyanate-selective electrodes are reported. The electrodes were prepared by coating the membrane solution containing PVC, plasticizer, carriers and additives on the surface of graphite electrodes. Influence of the membrane composition, pH and possible interfering anions were investigated on the response properties of the electrodes. Both sensors exhibited Nernstian responses towards thiocyanate over a wide concentration range of 1×10⁻⁶ to 0.1 M, with slopes of 60.6±0.8 and 57.5±1.2 mV per decade of thiocyanate concentration for Hg(MBO)₂ and Hg(PT)₂ carriers, respectively, over a wide pH range of 3-11. The limit of detection for both electrodes was ∼6×10⁻⁷ M. The sensors have response times of ≤5 s and can be used for at least 2 months without any considerable divergence in their potential response. The proposed electrodes show fairly good discrimination of thiocyanate over several inorganic and organic anions. The electrodes were successfully applied to direct determination of thiocyanate in saliva and as indicator electrodes in precipitation titrations.     

Crystallographic report: Bis(pyrrolinedithiocarbamato)mercury(II)

The mononuclear structure of Hg(S₂CN(CH₂)₄)₂ has crystallographically imposed twofold symmetry and features chelating dithiocarbamate ligands that form asymmetric Hg? S bond distances leading to a heavily distorted tetrahedral geometry. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II) halide pyrrolidine-2-thione complexes

Summary White crystalline complexes of general formula ML₂X₂, where M = Zn, Cd, Hg; X = Cl, 13r, I and L = pyrrolidine-2-thione, were prepared and studied by i.r. spectroscopy in the 4000-200 cm^–1 range. Evidence for coordination of the ligand to the metal through sulphur was found in each case. The previous assignment of the band present in the ligand at 1110 cm^–1 to the(CS) fundamental is discussed.This work was supported by the National Research Council (C.N.R.) of Italy.