Anion Effects on the Formation of Silver(I) Complexes with the Flexible Ligand 4,4-Bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl

The reaction of 4,4'-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl) biphenyl (btmb) with silver(I) salts of BF4 , NO3 and N-3 led to the formation of four new silver(I) coordination polymers {[Ag(btmb)]BF4}(n) (1), {[Ag-2(btmb)(3)](NO3)(2)(H2O)(5)}(n) (2), [Ag-2(btmb)(N-3)(2)](n) (3), and [Ag(btmb)(N-3)](n) (4). Their coordination number varies from 2 (in 1) to 3 (in 2), 4 (in 3), and 5 (in 4). Different from the single chain structure of 1, complex 2 displays a 1D ladder-like double chain framework, whereas complex 3 exhibits a 2D layered architecture. Complex 4 has the same anion as complex 3 but shows a different metal-toligand ratio and a 1D double-zigzag chain structure. Both 3 and 4 have Ag ....Ag argentophilic interactions. The ligand btmb adopts both cis or trans configuration in the studied complexes. A trans-or cis-btmb ligand link silver ions with Ag u u u Ag distances of approximate to 18 and 13 angstrom, respectively. BF4 and NO3 are non-coordinating anions in 1 and 2. N-3 is the bridging anion in 3 (1,3-bridging fashion) and 4 (1,1-bridging fashion). These findings suggest that the coordination numbers around the Ag-I ion correlate to the coordination abilities of anions and the btmb to silver ratio. In addition, the influence of anions on thermal stability were also investigated. This work is a good example that nicely supports the less explored field of anion-dependent structures of complexes with non-pyridyl ligands.