Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric study of mercury complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes derived from 1,2,4-triazolium salt precursors

Abstract

By mixing 1,2,4-triazolium salts (precursors of N-heterocyclic carbenes 1-6) with mercury acetate, a number of complexes have been obtained under el ectrospray ionization condition. Carbenes 1 and 2 contain one carbene center; therefore, they are able to bond only one mercury cation. Carbenes 3-5 contain two carbene centers; therefore, they can bond two mercury cations. Mercury complexes of 1-5 always contain an acetate anion attached to a mercury cation. Carbene 6 also contains two carbene centers; however, its structure allows formation of a complex containing mercury bonded simultaneously to both centers, therefore, the complex that does not contain an acetate anion. The MS/MS spectra taken for complexes of carbenes 1-5 have shown formation of a cation corresponding to N1 substituent (adamantyl or benzyl), and those of complexes of carbenes 3-5 (doubly charged ions) have also shown the respective complementary partner ions. Mercury complex of 2 has yielded some other interesting fragmentation pathways, e.g. a loss of the HHgOOCCH3 molecule. The fragmentation pathway of the mercury complexes of 6 was found to be complicated. © Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.