Taking Advantage of Hg-C Bonds: Synthesis of the First Homoleptic Bis-ß-diketiminate Complex Bound through the ?-Carbons

The most common ß-diketiminate ligand, [{N(2,6-iPr2C6H3)C(Me)}2CH]- (BDI), was used to synthesize a new mercury complex in which two BDI ligands are bound to the metal through the ?-carbons in the solid state. In solution, one of the BDI ligands switches to an N,N'-binding mode; this complex is in equilibrium with the homoleptic species. The thermodynamic parameters, ?H° (-2.52 kcal mol-1), ?S° (-9.24 cal mol-1 K-1), and ?G°298 (0.23 kcal mol-1), were measured using variable-temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy.