Toxicological effects of mercury and its compounds are well known. Mercury species are introduced into aquatic waters by anthropogenic activities or through bioalkylation of inorganic mercury by metalloenzymes such as methycobalamin present in microorganisms. Our research goal is to convert toxic mercury compounds into least toxic inorganic mercury HgS using sacrificial ligand. In this context, we have synthesized sacrificial ligand 1,2,4,5 tetra(isopropylthio)benzene; [C6H2(iPr)4] (L1) and its coordination chemistry with various mercury salts have been investigated in solution and solid states. Ligand L1 forms 1-D coordination polymers [HgX2{L1}]∞ (2, X = Cl; 3, X = Br) with HgCl2 and HgBr2 respectively, whereas L1 reacts with two equivalent of HgI2 to produce dinuclear mercury complex [I2Hg{L1}HgI2] (4). The Hg(ClO4)2 and Hg(OTf)2 salts combines with L1 in 1:1 ratio to form [Hg(X-κO)2{L1}]∞ (5, X = ClO4; 6, X = OTf). Ligand L1 and complexes 2-6 have been characterized by single crystal X-ray structure. The compound 2 and 3 reveals the formation of coordination network in which, [X2Hg{L1}HgX2] (X = Cl, Br) units are bridged by L1 through two para-thioether sulfur donor. Similarly, complexes 5 and 6 show Hg bridging by L1 through two thioether sulfur donors and oxygen coordination on both ends of the Hg ion. Complexes have coordination number 4,5 and 6 depending upon the anions.

Synthesis and structural characterization of mercury(II) coordination polymers based on 1,2,4,5-tetra(isopropylthio)benzene ligand

255th National Meeting (2018)

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