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°.