Abstract
A novel series of σ‐alkynyl complexes of orthomercuriated Schiff bases of substituted benzylideneanilines and anthracenylmethyleneanilines were synthesised in good yields by alkynylation of the mercuric chlorides of the appropriate Schiff bases with terminal alkynes RC≡CH (R = Ph, ferrocenyl, p‐ferrocenylphenyl) at room temperature in a basic medium. All the new compounds generally displayed good solubility in polar organic solvents and their identities were completely elucidated by various spectroscopic methods. The X‐ray crystal structures of these acetylide‐functionalised compounds represent the first structurally characterised examples of such alkynylmercury(II) complexes and confirmed that the alkynylmercury(II) moiety is directed to the ortho position of the N‐phenyl ring of the Schiff bases. In one instance, the crystal structure reveals that a loose 1D polymeric aggregate is formed for the first time through a combination of weak intermolecular Hg**···Hg and Hg···**η^2^‐C≡C interactions to afford an infinite zigzag chain of Hg atoms supported by acetylide linkages. All the complexes in this study were found to exhibit rich luminescence and solution redox behaviour and correlation of these data with the theoretical calculations by the density functional theory was made. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)