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The new α-keto stabilized phosphonium ylide (p-tolyl)₃C(H)C(O)C₆H₄-m-Br (Y) was synthesized by addition of tri(p-tolyl)phosphine to 2,3′-dibromoacetophenone, followed by treatment with NaOH 10%. The reaction of this ylide with HgX₂ (X = Cl, Br and I) and Hg(NO₃)₂·H₂O in equimolar ratio using dry methanol as solvent led to formation of dimeric complexes of type [(Y)HgX₂]₂ (X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3)) and polymeric complex of [(Y)Hg(NO₃)₂]_n (4). Characterization of obtained compounds was performed by elemental analysis and IR, ¹H, ³¹P and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. Also, single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the symmetric halide-bridged dimeric structure of complex 2. Considering these results, we have confirmed that the coordination of ylide to metal center occurred through the ylidic carbon atom. In addition, we report the antibacterial activity of these complexes against both the Gram-positive …