Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [(1‐(Phenyltriazenido)‐2‐(phenyltriazeno)benzene)(nitrato)mercury(II)], {Hg[PhN3C6H4N3(H)Ph](NO3)}, a Complex with Weak Metal‐Arene π‐Interactions

The reaction of PhN₃(H)C₆H₄N₃(H)Ph with Hg(NO₃)₂ in THF in the presence of triethylamine yields {Hg[PhN₃C₆H₄N₃(H)Ph](NO₃)} as a yellow powder that can be recrystallized from THF/acetone. The crystals belong to the monoclinic system, space group P2₁ with the cell dimensions a = 9.639(2), b = 5.412(1), c = 19.675(4) Å, β= 97.47(3)°, V = 1017.7 (4) ų, Z = 2. The crystal structure determination (2668 unique reflections with [I>2σ(I)], 262 parameters, R₁ = 0.0393) shows that the structure consists of mononuclear complexes. Hg atoms are linearly coordinated by one N_α atom of the triazenide unit of the planar ligand [Hg‐N(1) = 2.101(8) Å] and an O atom of the NO₃^— ion [Hg‐O(1) = 2.11(1) Å]. Additional weak Hg‐N contacts [Hg‐N(4) = 2.662(9) and Hg‐N(3) = 2.851(9) Å] and an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the triazenide hydrogen and an O atom of the nitrate group are observed [N(6)‐H(6)···O(2) = 2.92(2) Å]. The complexes are stacked to infinite chains by metal‐arene π‐interactions. Each Hg atom is coordinated by the terminal phenyl rings of two neighboring complexes [Hg‐C from 3.40(1) to 4.10(1) Å] in a η² fashion.