LAUSR

The unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic ligand 1-[(benzotriazol-1-yl)methyl]-1H-1,3-imidazole (bmi) has three potential N-atom donors and can act in monodentate or bridging coordination modes in the construction of complexes. In addition, the bmi ligand can adopt different coordination conformations, resulting in complexes with different structures due to the presence of the flexible methylene spacer. Two new complexes, namely bis{1-[(benzotriazol-1-yl)methyl]-1H-1,3-imidazole-κN3}dibromidomercury(II), [HgBr2(C10H9N5)2], and bis{1-[(benzotriazol-1-yl)methyl]-1H-1,3-imidazole-κN3}diiodidomercury(II), [HgI2(C10H9N5)2], have been synthesized through the self-assembly of bmi with HgBr2 or HgI2. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that both complexes are mononuclear structures, in which the bmi ligands coordinate to the HgII ions in monodentate modes. In the solid state, both complexes display three-dimensional networks formed by a combination of hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions. The IR spectra and PXRD patterns of both complexes have also been recorded.