Research into the chemistry of supramolecular coordination polymers has rapidly grown in recent years due to an increased demand for functional materials with tunable properties such as catalytic, conductive, luminescent, magnetic, non-linear optical effects or the formation of porous materials. The general purpose of this work is to examine the use of merury cyanide as a potential building block in the preparation of multidimensional coordination polymers. In order to narrow the scope of the research undertaken, this work will specifically focus on the development of mercury cyanide/chloride double salt coordination polymers. By doing so the concept of using Hg(II) as a universal glue to generate extended frameworks with increased dimensionality will be assessed. Attention is given to the various factors influencing the formation of such complexes including reactant stoichiometry, ligand basicity, solvent, and hydrogen bonding interactions. This survey should aid in the development of a predictable approach to designing mercury cyanide containing coordination polymers with a given dimensionality and their potential material properties.

Neil D. Draper, MSc.: Studied Chemistry at Simon Fraser University. Ph.D. Candidate and Sessional Instructor at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.