Formation of dinuclear, macrocyclic, and chain structures from HgI(2) and a semirigid benzimidazole-based bridging ligand: an example of ring-opening supramolecular isomerism.

The reactions of HgI(2) with the semirigid ditopic ligand 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (bbimms) afforded three new complexes, [Hg(2)(mu-I)(2)I(2)(bbimms)] (1), [Hg(2)I(4)(bbimms)(2)] (2), and catena-poly[HgI(2)(bbimms)] (3). The ligand and all complexes have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 is a triply bridged dinuclear complex comprised of two Hg(II) ions, one bridging ligand, two bridging I(-) anions, and two terminal I(-) anions. 2 is a dinuclear metallamacrocycle comprised of two Hg(II) ions, two bridging ligands, and four terminal I(-) anions, while 3 is a helical chain with the repeating unit of HgI(2)(bbimms). 2 and 3 can be classified as supramolecular isomers, and both are related to the triply bridged precursor 1 via the addition of one more ligand in a ring-opening process.