An-Najah Staff

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Hg(SCN)2(C14H12N2)], contains two complex molecules in which the HgII atoms are both four-coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral configuration by two N atoms from a chelating 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline ligand and by two S atoms from two thiocyanate anions. The 1,10-phenanthroline ligand is slightly folded for one complex, the dihedral angle between the pyridine planes being 5.3 (1)°. In contrast it is nearly planar [0.5 (1)°] as it complexes with the other HgII atom. The thiocyanate ligands are virtually linear and the S atom is bonded to HgII with N S-Hg angles ranging from 99.3 (1) to 103.5 (1)°. Despite the presence of six aromatic rings in the asymmetric unit, there are no significant intermolecular - contacts between phenanthroline ligands as the centroid-centroid distance of the closest contact between six-membered rings is 4.11 (1) A°.

The title compound, [HgCl2(C14H12N2)], consists of one 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen) ligand chelating the HgII ion and two chloride ligands coordinating to the HgII ion, forming a distorted tetrahedral environment. The dmphen ligand is nearly planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0225 Å). The dihedral angle between the normal to the plane defined by the HgII atom and the two Cl atoms and the normal to the plane of the dmphen ring is 81.8 (1)°.