Structural diversity of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver(i)

Abstract

Seven N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver(I) have been synthesized, five of which were structurally characterized. Polymeric Ag^I-carbene complexes with a diverse range of structures are formed through extended Ag^I–Ag^I interactions, Ag^I-bridging halides, Ag^I-bridging dicarbenes, and ring π–π interactions. Compounds having extended Ag^I–Ag^I-centered interactions exhibit low energy emission bands at λ_max ≈ 540 nm. These bands are assigned to metal-centered transitions involving extended Ag^I–Ag^I interactions.