Crystal Structures and Chemical Properties of Dimesitylcadmium and Dimesitylmercury

Mesityllithium was used to synthesize dimesitylcadmium and dimesitylmercury from CdCl 2 and HgCl 2 , respectively. X‐ray‐crystallographic data show that the group 12 metal compounds M [Mes] 2 ( M = Zn, Cd, Hg) are isomorphous (monoclinic, P 2 1 / n ). The asymmetric unit of M [Mes] 2 ( M = Zn, Cd, Hg) consists of one mesityl group bonded to the metal atom, which is related to the second substituent by an inversion center. In addition we have investigated the reaction of BBr 3 with M [Mes] 2 ( M = Cd, Hg) for our understanding of the reactivity of donor‐free group 12 mesityl compounds. The reaction of M [Mes] 2 ( M = Cd, Hg) with an excess of BBr 3 produces MesBBr 2 . UV‐induced conversion of Hg[Mes] 2 in benzene yielded quantitatively mesitylene and mercury whereas irradiation of a chloroform solution of Hg[Mes] 2 for 1290 min ( λ max = 510 nm) gave mesitylene, Hg[Mes]Cl, and HgCl 2 in a ratio of 6:4:1. Slow concentration of the reaction solution led to the deposition of X‐ray quality crystals of the addition compound of two Hg[Mes]Cl molecules and HgCl 2 (monoclinic space group P 2 1 / n ).