Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of dichlorido{2,2′-[oxybis(methylidene)]dipyridine}mercury(II)

Abstract

The series of divalent metal chloride complexes of 2,2′-[oxybis(methylidene)]dipyridine (L) was extended with the preparation of the title compound, [HgCl2(C12H12N2O)] or [HgLCl2] (1). The Hg2+ complex crystallizes in P21/n, isomorphic with dichloride Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ complexes of L. Metal ions of the isotypic complexes are coordinated by two chlorine atoms, as well as the oxygen atom and both nitrogen atoms of L. The complexes have a square-pyramidal coordination geometry with a chlorine atom in the apical position. Supramolecular interactions in 1 include offset face-to-face interactions between inversion-related complexes, leading to the formation of sheets parallel to the ab plane. Weak intermolecular H...Cl contacts link the sheets. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that H...H (36.5%), Cl...H/H...Cl (36.5%) and C...H/H...C (11.6%) interactions are dominant.