Two mercuric ammoniates:: [Hg(NH3)2][HgCl3]2 and [Hg(NH3)4](ClO4)2

[Hg(NH3)(2)][HgCl3](2) (1) is obtained by saturating an equimolar solution of HgCl2 and NH4Cl with Hg(NH2)Cl at 75 degreesC. 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pmna with a = 591.9(1) pm, b = 800.3(1) pm, c = 1243.3(4) pm, Z = 2. The structure consists of linear cations [Hg(NH3)(2)](2+) and T-shaped anions [HgCl3](-). The coordination sphere of mercury is "effectively" completed to compressed hexagonal bipyramids and distorted octahedra, respectively. Single crystals of [Hg(NH3)(4)](ClO4)(2) (2) are obtained by passing gaseous ammonia through a solution of mer-curie perchlorate, while the solution was cooled to temperatures below 10 degreesC. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 791.52(9) pm, b = 1084.3(2) pm, c = 1566.4(2) pm, beta = 120.352(1)degrees, Z = 4. The structure consists of compressed [Hg(NH3)(4)](2+) tetrahedra and perchlorate anions. The packing of the heavy atoms Hg and Cl is analogous to the baddeleyite (alpha-ZrO2) type of structure.