Dispersion Makes a Difference – The Solid‐State Structure of Hg[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂

Abstract

The solid‐state structure and Raman spectrum of Wannagat's mercurane, Hg[N(SiMe3)2]2 (1), are reported. Crystals were grown from the pure substance by slow cooling to –24 °C. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c as discrete monomers, which do not display intermolecular mercurophilic interactions. The molecular structure features a nearly linear N–Hg–N scaffold, while the (Me3Si)2N groups are in a staggered conformation with a dihedral angle of 58.3° (average) to each other. This can be attributed to intramolecular dispersion interactions according to DFT calculations.