Chair-form [Ag2(1,2-bimb)2]2+ in silver(I) complexes containing the ditopic ligand 1,2-bis(1-imidazolylmethyl)benzene (1,2-bimb)

Abstract The ditopic ligand 1,2-bis(1-imidazolylmethyl)benzene (1,2-bimb) and its silver(I) complexes [Ag 2 (1,2-bimb) 2 ](PF 6 ) 2 ( 1 ) and {[Ag 2 (1,2-bimb) 2 ] 2 (SbF 6 ) 4 } n ( 2 ) were prepared and their structures characterized by X-ray crystallography. Both complexes contain the chair -form unit [Ag 2 (1,2-bimb) 2 ] 2+ with Ag(I) linearly coordinated by N Im (Im=1-imidazolyl) from the Im groups of two 1,2-bimb. However, the [Ag 2 (1,2-bimb) 2 ] 2+ units are positioned differently in forming 1D infinite chains through weak argentophilic interactions: linear chains in 1 with the units oriented in same direction are formed via Ag⋯π interactions, while polymeric chains constructed via Ag⋯Ag interactions in 2 are observed with the units arranged in alternate directions. Differences in supramolecular structures may be a result of different size of the anions.