The Crystal Structure of a Colored Complex, C7H7OHg·C7H6O2N, Obtained in the Millon Reaction of <i>p</i>-Cresol

Abstract

Abstract The crystal structure of the complex of 2-mercuri-4-methylphenol and 2-nitroso-4-methylphenol obtained in the modified Millon reaction was determined using three-dimensional X-ray diffraction data. The complex crystallizes in triclinic system, space group P\bar1, with a unit cell of dimensions a=10.26 Å, b=22.71 Å, c=5.61 Å, α=97.2°, β=93.1°, γ=91.1°, containing four complex molecules. Each of the two crystallographycally independent complex molecules both having essentially the same structure, forms a dimer with its nearest neighbor related by a center of symmetry through a pair of hydrogen bonds. The mercury atoms adopt a planar four-fold coordination with nitrogen, carbon and two oxygen atoms.