Straightforward formation of dianionic acetonylate: self-assembly of mercury() with pyridyl donor ligands in acetone

Self-assembly of Hg(ClO 4 ) 2 with a new bidentate ligand (L) in acetone at room temperature produces single crystals consisting of unusual discrete tetranuclear complexes [Hg 4 (ClO 4 ) 4 (CH 2 COCH 2 ) 2 L 2 ]·CH 3 COCH 3 via straightforward formation of dianionic acetonylate − CH 2 COCH 2 − in a quantitative yield. Self-assembly of Hg(ClO 4 ) 2 with a horse-shoe type ligand in acetone at room temperature produces single crystals consisting of [Hg 4 (ClO 4 ) 4 (CH 2 COCH 2 ) 2 L 2 ]·CH 3 COCH 3 via straightforward formation of dianionic acetonylate − CH 2 COCH 2 − in high yields.