title: Mercury-fluorine interactions: a matrix isolation investigation of Hg...F2, HgF2 and HgF4 in argon matrices.
abstract: HgF(2) and Hg have been trapped in dilute F(2)/Ar and neat F(2) matrices, subjected to UV-Vis and vac-UV photolysis and annealing, with the products identified by FTIR, UV-Vis-NIR and Hg L(3)-edge XAFS spectroscopic techniques. Whilst there was no convincing evidence for the formation of HgF(4) under our argon matrix isolation conditions, a new Hg...F(2) complex was identified and subsequent photolysis yielded HgF(2) very cleanly. Hg L(3)-edge EXAFS has provided the first experimental value of 1.94(2) A for the Hg-F bond length in HgF(2), which is in excellent agreement with the computational values incorporating relativistic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rooms
authors.forename: Antony V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bridgeman
authors.forename: Nigel A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Young