Complexes of the phenylmethane nitronato and propane-2-nitronato anions with divalent metal ions

Complexes of the nitronato anions PhCHNO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> and (CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>CNO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> have been prepared with a variety of divalent metals. Compounds of four stoicheiometries have been isolated; these are MA<sub>2</sub>, 2L, MA<sub>2</sub>, B, CuA<sub>2</sub>, and HgACl (where M = Mn(II), Co(II), Fe(II) or Ni(II), A = nitronato anion, L = monodentate ligand and B = bidentate ligand). The magnetic and spectral properties are interpreted as showing all the species except HgACl to contain 6 coordinate metal atoms. On the evidence of IR spectra, it is possible to distinguish between bridging and chelating nitronato anions by examining the position of ν<sub>asym</sub> NO<sub>2</sub> and to deduce that in the species HgACl there are mercury-carbon bonds