The low-temperature reaction between 2 equiv of (perfluorovinyl)lithium, derived from CF3CH2F and butyllithium,
and mercury(II) chloride results in high yields of Hg(CFCF2)2. Complete characterization of the air- and moisture-stable liquid product is afforded by multinuclear (13C, 19F, 199Hg) NMR studies. Crystals of the compound [triclinic,
P1̄; a = 4.956(4), b = 5.733(4), c = 6.394(4) Å; α = 104.57(5), β = 109.32(6), γ = 107.16(6)°; Z = 1] were
obtained by slow cooling; an X-ray structural determination at 110 K represents the first such report for a
(perfluorovinyl)metal complex. The mercury is coordinated linearly [r(Hg−C) = 1.998(5) Å], and π-stacking of
the perfluorovinyl groups is observed. There is considerable variation in the C−F bond distances [1.286(6), 1.312(6), 1.362(6) Å] within each perfluorovinyl group. Structural data for the vapor-phase species were obtained by
analysis of the electron-diffraction pattern. There appears to be free rotation of the perfluorovinyl groups around
the Hg−C bonds, a significantly longer mercury−carbon distance [2.054(3) Å], and a similar, but smaller, variation
in the C−F bond lengths. Theoretical optimization of the geometry at the MP2/DZP level predicts a shallow
potential-energy minimum when the two perfluorovinyl groups are nearly perpendicular [Φ(CC···CC) =
98.2°] to one another. Analysis of the bonding in the molecule suggests that no significant d(Hg) → π*(CC)
interaction is present.