Variable coordination modes of NO2(-) in a series of Ag(I) complexes containing triorganophosphines, -arsines,and -stibines. Syntheses,spectroscopic characterization (IR, 1H and 31P NMR,electrospray ionization mass), and structures of [AgNO2(R(3)E)(x)] adducts (E = P,As, Sb,x = 1-3)

Adducts of triorganophosphine, triphenylarsine, and triphenylstibine with silver(I) nitrite have been synthesized and characterized both in solution ((1)H, (31)P NMR) and in the solid state (IR, single-crystal X-ray structure analysis). In addition aggregates of AgNO(2) and ER(3) (E = P, As, Sb) have been identified in solution by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The topology of the structures in the solid state was found to depend on the nature of ER(3) and on the stoichiometric ratio AgNO(2):ER(3). The adducts AgNO(2):EPh(3) (1:1) (E = P or Sb) are one-dimensional polymers, the role of NO(2)(-) being to bridge successive metal atoms by coordination of the two oxygens to one silver atom and the nitrogen lone pair to a successive Ag. The adduct AgNO(2):P(o-tolyl)(3) (1:1) is mononuclear, due to steric hindrance of the phosphine, the nitrite being O,O'-bidentate, a rare example of a quasi-linear P-Ag-X array. AgNO(2):P(p-F-C(6)H(4))(3) (1:1) is a dimer, the nitrite being coordinated through both oxygens, the first unidentate, the second bridging bidentate. P(o-tolyl)(3) and Pcy(3) form 1:2 adducts, also mononuclear, the nitrite still an O,O'-chelate. In contrast, the adduct AgNO(2):AsPh(3) (1:2) is a centrosymmetric dimer, essentially an aggregate of a pair of Ag(O(2)N)(AsPh(3))(2)] arrays with one nitrite oxygen being the bridging atom. The adducts AgNO(2):EPh(3) (1:3) (E = As, Sb) are mononuclear, the nitrite behaving as a consistently strong O,O'-chelate. The E = As adduct is a triclinic solvated form, whereas the unsolvated E = Sb species is monoclinic. ESI-MS spectra of acetonitrile solutions of these complexes show the existence of Ag(ER(3))](+), Ag(CH(3)CN)](+), Ag(CH(3)CN)(2)](+), AgCl(2)](-), Ag(NO(2))(2)](-), Ag(ER(3))(CH(3)CN)](+), and Ag(ER(3))(2)](+) as well as higher aggregates Ag(2)(NO(2))(ER(3))(2)](+), Ag(2)(NO(2))(3)](-) and Ag(2)Cl(2)(NO(2))](-), which are less prevalent.