Mercury–fluorine interactions: a matrix isolation investigation of Hg⋯F2, HgF2 and HgF4 in argon matrices

Rooms, John F.; Wilson, Antony V.; Harvey, Ian; Bridgeman, Adam J.; Young, Nigel A.

Abstract

HgF2 and Hg have been trapped in dilute F2/Ar and neat F2 matrices, subjected to UV-Vis and vac-UV photolysis and annealing, with the products identified by FTIR, UV-Vis-NIR and Hg L3-edge XAFS spectroscopic techniques. Whilst there was no convincing evidence for the formation of HgF4 under our argon matrix isolation conditions, a new Hg?F2 complex was identified and subsequent photolysis yielded HgF2 very cleanly. Hg L3-edge EXAFS has provided the first experimental value of 1.94(2) angstrom for the Hg-F bond length in HgF2, which is in excellent agreement with the computational values incorporating relativistic effects.

Citation

Rooms, J. F., Wilson, A. V., Harvey, I., Bridgeman, A. J., & Young, N. A. (2008). Mercury–fluorine interactions: a matrix isolation investigation of Hg⋯F2, HgF2 and HgF4 in argon matrices. Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP, 10(31), 4594-4605. https://doi.org/10.1039/b805608k

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 21, 2008
• Publication Date: Jun 23, 2008
• Journal: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
• Print ISSN: 1463-9076
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 31
• Pages: 4594-4605
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/b805608k
• Keywords: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry; General Physics and Astronomy
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/399994
• Publisher URL: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2008/CP/b805608k#!divAbstract