Tetraquecksilbermethane. Tetrakis(methylthioquecksilber)-methan C(HgSCH3)4 und µ-Dithiotetraquecksilbermethan CHg4S2; Synthesen und Schwingungsspektren / Tetramercurimethanes. Tetrakis(methylthiomercuri)methane C(HgSCH3)4 and µ-Dithiotetramercurimethane C

Abstract Reactions of tetrakis(acetoxymercuri)methanes C(HgOOCCR3)4 (R = H, or F) in aqueous solutions with methylsulfane CH3SH, or sulfane H2S, yield tetrakis(methylthiomercuri)methane C(HgSCH3)4, and μ-dithiotetramercurimethane CHg4S2, respectively, both insoluble in common solvents and thermally remarkably stable. The central CHg4 groups of the starting materials have been preserved under the reaction conditions, thus tetrahedral entities C(HgS–)4 are common to both compounds. In the polymeric, amorphous CHg4S2 the CHg4 units are linked by sulfur bridges in a highly disordered manner, as is suggested by vibrational spectra. In other respects close similarities in the vibrational behaviour of these CHg4 fragments and of the isosteric NHg4 tetrahedra in tetramercurioammonium complexes have been observed.