Synthesis of pentafluorophenyl(ylide)silver(I) complexes: X-ray structures of two modifications of [Ag(C6F5)(CH2PPh3)]

Abstract

Monomeric silver ylide complexes [Ag(C₆F₅)(CH₂ER₃)](ER₃= PPh₃, PPh₂Me, PPhMe₂, or AsPh₃) can be prepared by the reaction of Ag(CF₃CO₂) with Li(C₆F₅) and [ER₃Me][CF₃CO₂]. The free ylides CH₂PPh₃, CH₂PPh₂Me, or CH(CO₂Me)PPh₃ react with Ag(C₆F₅) or AgClO₄ to afford [Ag(C₆F₅)(ylide)] or [Ag(CH₂PPh₃)₂]ClO₄ respectively. Several novel ylide-transfer reactions from silver ylides to other silver or gold centres are reported. The structures of two forms of [Ag(C₆F₅)(CH₂PPh₃)] have been established. The molecules differ mainly in the orientation of one phenyl ring. The C₆F₅ groups are highly distorted at the ipso carbon [C–C–C 113.1 (5) and 112.5(5)°].