Structural diversity in the self-assembly of Ag(I) complexes containing 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dicyano-4-(3-pyridyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine

A series of silver(I) complexes of the type [Ag(L)(2)][PF6], 1, {[Ag(L)(2)][PF6]}(infinity), 2, {[Ag(L)(CH3CN)][BF4]}(infinity), 3, {[Ag(L)(CH3CN)][CF3SO3]}(infinity), 4, and {[Ag-2(L)(2)(ClO4)][ClO4]}(infinity), 5 [L = 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dicyano-4-(3-pyridyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine] have been prepared by reactions of various Ag(I) salts with L in different solvent systems. All the complexes have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography confirming that complex 1 is a 0-D molecular complex, while complexes 2-5 are one-dimensional coordination polymeric chains. The L ligands in complex 1 act as new unidentate ligands to bond Ag(I) ions, while the L ligands in complexes 2-5 act as bi- and tri-dentate ligands to bridge Ag(I) ions. The anions PF6-, BF4- and CF3SO3- in complexes 1-4 are not coordinated to the Ag(I) atoms while the ClO4- anions in complex 5 are coordinated to the metal centers through one of the four oxygen atoms. The resulting structural types of complexes 1-5 are affected by factors such as counteranions and solvents, the anions in complexes 1-5 play important roles in linking cationic chains or layers to form 3-D supramolecular structures.