θˌaɪoʊlˈeɪts ˈɑːɹɹˈɛs mˈaɪnəs ænd θˌaɪoʊkˈɛtoʊnz ˈɑːɹ tˈuː sˈiː ˈiːkwəlz ˈɛs, bˌiːɪŋ sˈɔft nˈuːklɪˌɑːfaɪlz, fˈɔːɹm stɹˈɔŋ koʊˈɔːɹdᵻnˈeɪʃən kˈɑːmplɛksᵻz wɪð mˈɜːkjʊɹi ɹˌoʊmən tˈuː, ɐ sˈɔft ɪlˌɛktɹoʊfˈaɪl.
Thiolates (R-S−) and thioketones (R2C=S), being soft nucleophiles, form strong coordination complexes with mercury(II), a soft electrophile.