Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of Hg(II) complexes of new unsymmetrical Phosphorus ylide

The reaction of Ph2PCH2PPh2 (dppm) with ethylchloroacetate in chloroform produce the new phosphonium salts [Ph2PCH2PPh2CH2C(O)OCH2CH3]Cl (1). Further, by reacting the phosphonium salt with appropriate base, the bidentate phosphorus ylide, Ph2PCH2PPh2=C(H)C(O)OCH2CH3 (2) was obtained. The reaction of this ligand with mercury(II) halides in dry methanol led to the formation of the mono nuclear complexes [HgX2(Ph2PCH2PPh2C(H)C(O)OCH2CH3)] [X=Cl (3), Br (4), I (5)]. Characterization of the obtained compounds was performed by elemental analysis, IR, 1H, 31P and 13C NMR. In all complexes the title ylide is coordinated through the ylidic carbon and the phosphine atom.These compounds form five membered ring under complexation