Supramolecular structural variations with changes in anion and solvent in silver(I) complexes of a semirigid, bitopic tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand

The bitopic ligand p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2) (pz = pyrazolyl ring) that contains two tris(pyrazolyl)methane units connected by a semirigid organic spacer reacts with silver(I) salts to yield p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgX)(2)]( infinity ), where X = CF(3)SO(3)(-) (1), SbF(6)(-) (2), PF(6)(-) (3), BF(4)(-) (4), and NO(3)(-) (5). Crystallization of the first three compounds from acetone yields p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgCF(3)SO(3))(2)]( infinity ) (1a), p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgSbF(6))(2)(CH(3))(2)CO](2)]( infinity ) (2b), and p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)AgPF(6)]( infinity ) (3a), where the stoichiometry for the latter compound has changed from a metal:ligand ratio of 2:1 to 1:1. The structure of 1a is based on helical argentachains constructed by a kappa(2)-kappa(1) coordination to silver of the tris(pyrazolyl)methane units. These chains are organized into a tubular 3D structure by cylindrical (CF(3)SO(3))(6)](6)(-) clusters that form weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds with the bitopic ligand. The same kappa(2)-kappa(1) coordination is present in the structure of 2a, but the structure is organized by six different tris(pyrazolyl)methane units from six ligands bonding with six silvers to form a 36-member argentamacrocycle core. The cores are organized in a tubular array by the organic spacers where each pair of macrocycles sandwich six acetone molecules and one SbF(6)(-) counterion. The structure of 3a is based on a kappa(2)-kappa(0) coordination mode of each tris(pyrazolyl)methane unit forming a helical coordination polymer, with two strands organized in a double stranded helical structure by a series of C-H...pi interactions between the central arene rings. Crystallization of 2-4 from acetonitrile yields complexes of the formula p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgX)(2)(CH(3)CN)(n)]]( infinity ) where n = 2 for X = SbF(6)(-) (2b), X = PF(6)(-) (3b) and n = 1 for X = BF(4)(-) (4b). All three structures contain argentachains formed by a kappa(2)-kappa(1) coordination mode of the tris(pyrazolyl)methane units linked by the organic spacer and arranged in a 2D sheet structure with the anions sandwiched between the sheets. Crystallization of 5 from acetonitrile yields crystals of the formula p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgNO(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(4)]( infinity ), where the nitrate is bonded to the silver. The argentachains, again formed by kappa(2)-kappa(1) coordination, are arranged in W-shaped sheets that have an overall configuration very different from 2b-4b. Treating p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgSbF(6))(2)]( infinity ) with a saturated aqueous solution of KPF(6) or KO(3)SCF(3) slowly leads to complete exchange of the anion. Crystallization of a sample that contains an approximately equal mixture of SbF(6)(-)/PF(6)(-) from acetonitrile yields p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)Ag(2)(PF(6))(0.78(1))(SbF(6))(1.22(1))(CH(3)CN)(2)](CH(3)CN)(0.25) (C(4)H(10)O)(0.25)]]( infinity ), a compound with a sheet structure analogous to 2b-4b. Crystallization of the same mixture from acetone yields p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgSbF(6))(CH(3))(2)CO](1.5)]( infinity ), where the metal-to-ligand ratio is 1:1 and the C(pz)(3)] units are kappa(2)-kappa(0) bonded forming a coordination polymer. The supramolecular structures of all species are organized by a combination of C-H...pi, pi-pi, or weak C-H-F(O) hydrogen bonding interactions.