Synthesis and crystal structure of [C6H5Hg(H2NSiMe3)][H2N{B(C6F5)3}2], a phenyl–mercury(II) cation stabilised by a non-coordinating counter-anion

International audienceThe new heteroleptic mercury(II) complex PhHgN(SiMe3)2(1) reacts with the strong Brønsted acid [H(OEt2)2][H2N{B(C6F5)3}2] with cleavage of a N–Si bond to give [C6H5Hg(H2NSiMe3)][H2N{B(C6F5)3}2] (2), a phenyl–mercury(II) cation stabilised by a primary amine and a non-coordinating counter-anion. Attempts to generate donor-free aryl mercury cations were not successful. The crystal structure of 2.CH2Cl2 shows short p-bonding interactions between the metal and the phenyl ring of a neighbouring cation; the geometry about the mercury(II) atom is nearly linear. The X-ray structures of the new salts [H2N(SiMe3)2.H3NSiMe3][B(C6F5)4]2 and [Et3O][H2N{B(C6F5)3}2].CH2Cl2 are also presented