Addition compounds of organic sulphides with mercuric chloride. Infrared spectra in the solid state

Abstract

I.r. spectra between 200 and 450 cm.^–1 of a large series of complexes of aliphatic sulphides with mercuric chloride, R¹R²S, (HgCl₂)_n with n= 1,1·5, 2, have been recorded. A correlation is suggested between the crystal structure and the i.r. absorption, which allows discrimination between 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 3 complexes. A correlation has been attempted between the frequencies of the HgCl₂ groups present in the complexes with Taft's σ* constants for the aliphatic chains attached to sulphur. It is suggested that the basicity of the sulphide is an important factor affecting the strength of the Hg–Cl bonds in the complex.