Confirmation of Complex Formation Between Ethylene and Mercury Halides by Matrix-Isolation Infrared Spectroscopy

Since DeKock¹ first prepared the Ni(CO)_n (n = 1,2,3 and 4) series in argon matrices, a number of unstable and transient coordination compounds have been synthesized by reacting metal vapor directly with the ligand in inert gas matrices at low temperatures. These include metals such as Pt, Pd and Ni, and ligands such as CO, N₂′ NO, O₂ and PF₃. Van Leirsburg and DeKock² prepared the MX₂-L type complexes by reacting metal halide vapor such as NiF₂ and NiCl₂ directly with ligands such as CO, NO and N₂ in argon matrices. Thus far, no reports are available on the synthesis of metal halid-ethylene complexes in inert gas matrices. In this letter, we wish to report the confirmation of such complex formation by matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy.