LAUSR

New bis-p-iminobenzoquinone ligands, in which two hydroxy-p-iminobenzoquinone moieties are bridged by various functionalized linkers, were synthesized by 1,4-addition of aromatic diamines to 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone. The exchange reaction between potassium salts of new ligands and ethylmercury(ii) chloride produces the corresponding mono- and binuclear metal complexes. In these complexes, the mercury atoms exhibit T-shaped trigonal geometry characteristic of three-coordinate mercury(ii) derivatives. The structures of the new ligands and the mercury complexes with these ligands were determined by IR, UV, and NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.