The Infinite Linear Chain Compounds Hg3—δAsF6 and Hg3—δSbF6

The compound Hg3-δ AsF6 was first prepared in 1971 by Gillespie and Ummat1 during the course of experiments which had as their aim the preparation of polyatomic cations of mercury having the general formula Hg2+n. The mercurous cation Hg2+2, 1, has been known for a very long time and it was the unique example of a metal cation containing two covalently bonded metal atoms.