Thermal properties of mercury(II) and palladium(II) purine and pyrimidine complexes

Six solid Pd(II) and Hg(II) complexes of some purines and pyrimidines have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis spectra, magnetic measurements, and thermal analyses. The data suggest tetrahedral and square planar geometries for mercury and palladium complexes, respectively. The thermal behavior of the complexes has been studied applying TG, DTA, and DSC techniques, and the thermodynamic parameters and mechanisms of the decompositions were evaluated. The ?S* values of the decomposition steps of the metal complexes indicated that the activated fragments have more ordered structure than the undecomposed complexes, and/or the decomposition reactions are slow. The thermal processes proceeded in complicated mechanisms where the bond between the central metal ion and the ligands dissociates after losing small molecules such as H₂O, HCl or C=O. The palladium adenine complex is ended with the metal as a final product. However, the thermal reactions of the other five palladium and mercury pyrimidines complexes are ended with metal bonded to O, N, or S of the pyrimidine ring.