(2-{[4-(Chloridomercuryl)phenyl]iminomethyl}pyridine-κ2N,N′)diiodidomercury(II) dimethyl sulfoxide monosolvate

The title dimethyl sulfoxide solvate, [Hg2(C12H9ClN2)I2]·C2H6OS, features tetrahedrally and linearly coordinated HgII atoms. The distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere is defined by chelating N atoms that define an acute angle [69.6 (3)°] and two I atoms that form a wide angle [142.80 (4)°]. The linearly coordinated HgII atom [177.0 (4)°] exists with a donor set defined by C and Cl atoms. Secondary interactions are apparent in the crystal packing with the tetrahedrally and linearly coordinated HgII atoms expanding their coordination environments by forming weak Hg...I [3.772 (7) Å] and Hg...O [2.921 (12) Å] interactions, respectively. Mercury-containing molecules stack along the a axis, are connected by π–π interactions [inter-centroid distance between pyridine and benzene rings = 3.772 (7) Å] and define channels in which the dimethyl sulfoxide molecules reside. The latter are connected by the aforementioned Hg...O interactions as well as C—H...I and C—H...O interactions, resulting in a three-dimensional architecture