[2-(N,N-Dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenyl] as a ligand towards mercury

The diorganomercurial bis2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenyl]mercury(II), (FcN)₂Hg (3), can be obtained by the symmetrisation of the heteroleptic (FcN)HgCl (2) with Na₂S₂O₃ or in the transmetallation reaction of 2 with (FcN)Li. By crystallisation only the crystals of rac-(FcN)₂Hg were obtained. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed linear coordinated mercury atom with two η¹-bonded FcN ligands. Additionally, weak chelate interactions exist between mercury and nitrogen atoms of the ---CH₂NMe₂ side chains. According to the ¹H-NMR findings, these interactions are not preserved in solution. Diorganomercurial 3 appears in solution as a mixture of two diastereomers with rac/meso-(FcN)₂Hg ratio of 1:1. This diastereomeric ratio in solution remains constant within a wide temperature range and in different solvents. The NMR spectroscopic data of the heteroleptic organomercurials (FcN)HgCl]₂·H₂O (1) and (FcN)HgCl (2) indicate the chelate-free structure of this compounds in solution within the studied temperature interval (−80 to 90 °C).