Crystal structures of the organic metals (ET)2[Hg(SCN)Cl2] and (ET)2[Hg(SCN)2Br]

The compositions and structures of two new organic metals based on ET where ET = bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene], viz., (ET)₂Hg(SCN)Cl₂], with a metal-dielectric transition temperature (T_m-d) of 35°K, and (ET)₂Hg(SCN)₂Br], with T_m-d = 140°K, were established by x-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structures of the investigated compounds are similar to the structure of the previously studied organic metal (ET)₂Hg(SCN)₂Cl] with T_m-d = 50°K. The principal crystallographic data for (ET)₂Hg(SCN)Cl₂] are as follows: a = 36.64(1), b = 8.300(4), c = 11.798(1) Å, = 89.91(3)°, V = 3588.1(9) ų, space group Cc, Z = 4, d_calc = 2.05 g/cm³. The principal crystallographic data for (ET)₂Hg(SCN)₂Br] are as follows: a = 37.088(14), b = 8.338(3), c = 11.738(5) Å, = 89.71(3)°, V = 3629.6(8) ų, space group C2/c, Z = 8, d_calc = 2.15 g/cm³. A characteristic feature of the crystal structure of the investigated compounds is alternation of the anion and cation layers along the a axis of the crystal. In the cation layer of the k type the ET are interconnected by shortened S...S intermolecular contacts (3.39–3.58 Å). The Hg(SCN)_3–nX_n]^– anions (X = Cl, Br; n = 1, 2) form polymeric chains with one or two bridged SCN groups. A tendency for a decrease in the metal-dielectric transition temperature with a decrease in the volume of the anion is detected in the (ET)₂Hg(SCN)_3–nX_n] salts, where X = Cl and Br, and n = 1 and 2.Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2323–2331, October, 1992.