Structural modulation of silver complexes and their distinctive catalytic properties†
Abstract
A family of silver(I) complexes, [Ag2(L)2(OOCCF3)2] (1), [Ag(L)0.5(OOCCF3)] (2), [Ag(L)2](OOCCF3)(H2O)2 (3), was obtained by reactions of 4,4′-di(2-oxazolinyl)biphenyl (L) and AgOOCCF3 in different reaction media. Compound 1 has a 1D chain structure with alternative connections between the Ag(I) and L ligand. When the crystal nucleation inductor, pyrazine, was added into the reaction system, complex 2 was isolated with no pyrazine observed in its structure. In 2, the 1D inorganic chains formed by Ag(I) cations and OOCCF3− anions were connected by the L ligand to produce a 2D network. When a different inductor, imidazole, was added into the reaction system, 3 with (4,4) topology was synthesized, and again no imidazole was found in 3. When 1–3 were used as catalysts for cycloaddition reactions between imino esters and methyl acrylate, 3 affords the highest yield, in which the particular size of the channels in 3 led to its selective catalytic performance.