Reactions of thioether carboxylic acids with mercury(II). Formation and X-ray crystal structure of mercury(II) mercaptoacetate

Abstract Reactions of Hg(II) salts with thioether carboxylic acids o -C 6 H 4 [CH(SCH 2 COOH) 2 ] 2 ( 1a ) and PhCH(SCH 2 COOH) 2 ( 3 ) in water were found to lead to the decomposition of these ligands with the formation of mercury(II) mercaptoacetate Hg(SCH 2 COOH) 2 ( 2 ) and aldehydes o -C 6 H 4 (CHO) 2 and PhCHO, respectively. A similar reaction was observed between Hg(NO 3 ) 2 and CH 3 (CH 2 ) 2 CH(SCH 2 COOH) 2 ( 4 ). The X-ray structure of Hg(SCH 2 COOH) 2 ( 2 ) shows a linear –S–Hg–S– moiety. The mechanism of the formation of 2 in the reactions between Hg 2+ and thioether carboxylic acids in water is discussed.