ONE-DIMENSIONAL MERCURY TELLURIDE POLYMERS - SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF (ET4N)2HG2TE4 AND (ME4N)4HG3TE7-CENTER-DOT(0.5EN)

Two new one-dimensional mercury telluride polymers have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Treatment of an ethylenediamine (en) extract of an alloy of nominal composition K2Hg2Te3 with Et4NI gives a 40% yield of (Et4N)2-Hg2Te4 (1). Dark hexagonal plates of (1) crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/a with a = 14.869(8), b = 12.263(4), c = 15.297.6(6) angstrom, beta = 97.43(4)-degrees, Z = 4 and R(R(w)) = 0.057(0.069). The Hg2Te4(2-) chains in (1) are built up from five-membered {Hg2Te3} rings with the trigonally planar coordinated Hg atoms in the 1 and 3 positions of the ring. These rings are bonded into strings by Te atoms. Mercury telluride (Me4N)3Hg3Te7.(0.5en) (2) is prepared by the constant current cathodic dissolution of a Hg2Te3 electrode into an en solution of Me4NI. Flat, black needles of (2), crystallize in the triclinic space group P1BAR with a = 12.080(3), b = 17.261(7), c = 9.905(1) angstrom, alpha = 94.22(3)-degrees, beta = 92.26(1)-degrees, gamma = 80.12(3)-degrees, V = 2028.2(9) angstrom3, Z = 2 and R(R(w)) = 0.041(0.038). Telluride 2 contains five-membered rings similar to those found in 1 with the exception that the five-membered rings are fused at a common tetrahedrally coordinated spiro Hg atom. These Hg3Te6 moieties, with two Hg possessing approximately trigonal-planar coordination and one with tetrahedral coordination are connected into one-dimensional strands via additional single Te atom bridges.