Comparative study of structural stability in [NH4−n (CH3) n ]2HgCl4 and in related compounds

The structural instability of the [NH4−n (CH3) n ]2HgCl4 group has been investigated. Consideration of different crystals of this family shows that the H-bonds, obviously, hinder the appearance of incommensurate modulation. The dependence of phase transition sequence on the sizes of cation and anion may be obtained only for crystals with simple cation. The appearance of H-bonds complicates the situation and, leads to gradual disappearance of IC phase in the A2BX4 family.