catena -Poly[[μ 2 -4,4′-bis(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)-1,1′-biphenyl-κ 2 N : N ′]bis(μ 2 -thiocyanato-κ 2 N : S )bis(thiocyanato-κ S )dimercury(II)]

In the title polymer, [Hg 2 (SCN) 4 (C 26 H 16 N 2 )] n , the two equivalent Hg II atoms are coordinated by one N atom of a bridging 4,4′-bis(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)-1,1′-biphenyl ligand, two S atoms of two thiocyanates and one N atom of a thiocyanate, giving rise to a distored tetrahedral coordination environment. Two thiocyanate ligands bridge symmetry-related metal atoms to form a polymeric chain extending parallel to [001], and another bridging mode is accomplished by the organic ligand that is located about an inversion centre. The dihedral angle between the coordinating pyridine ring and the benzene ring is 11.4 (2)°, and the two coordinating pyridine rings in the organic ligand are parallel by symmetry. The point group of the ligand in the compound is thus close to C 2 h . The result of the mode of the organic ligands is the formation of zigzag sheets connected via bridging thiocyanate ligands.