Silver(I) 1,3-Butadiynediide and Two Related Silver(I) Double Salts Containing the C42- Dianion

Tetracopper σ-Bound μ-Acetylide and -Diyne Units Stabilized by a Naphthyridine-based Dinucleating Ligand

Reactions of a dicopper(I) tert-butoxide complex with alkynes possessing boryl or silyl capping groups resulted in formation of unprecedented tetracopper(I) μ-acetylide/diyne complexes that were characterized by NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds possess an unusual μ4 -η1 :η1 :η1 :η1 coordination mode for the bridging organic fragment, enforced by the rigid and dinucleating nature of the ligand utilized. Thus, the central π system remains unperturbed and accessible for subsequent reactivity and modification. This has been corroborated by addition of a fifth copper atom, giving rise to a pentacopper acetylide complex. This work may provide a new approach by which metal-metal cooperativity can be exploited in the transformation of acetylide and diyne groups to a variety of substrates, or as a starting point for the controlled synthesis of copper(I) alkyne-containing clusters.

Size- and shape-adaptable mixed-alkoxide-aggregates: encapsulation of tetrafluoroborate and butadiynediide

Treatment of silyl compounds with excess sodium tert-butoxide results in encapsulation of the released anion. While the BF4− anion just fits in a spherical sodium alkoxide hull, the butadiyenediide dianion pierces its hull resulting in dimerisation.

Synthesis and characterization of a nanocluster-based silver(i) tert-butylethynide compound with a large second-harmonic generation response

A new nanocluster-based silver(i) tert-butylethynide compound, namely, (tBuC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CAg)2(Ag4SiW12O40)(DMSO)6 (HT-1), has been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The two kinds of nanocluster synthons (a silver aggregate named [(tBuC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2Ag6(DMSO)6] and a SiW12 polyoxoanion) are assembled into a three-dimensional coordination network, which has a non-centrosymmetric crystal lattice. Powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements reveal that HT-1 belongs to the phase-matchable class with a moderately strong SHG response of about 3 times that of the KH2PO4 (KDP) sample. HT-1 represents the first example of a Ag(i) alkynyl cluster compound with a SHG response. The present study not only extends the application fields of Ag(i) alkynyl clusters but also demonstrates a new paradigm for understanding the Ag(i) alkynyl structural chemistry.

Polynuclear organometallic clusters: synthesis, structure, and reactivity studies

This feature article highlights our recent advances in the controllable synthesis of carbon-centered polynuclear organometallic clusters: from synthesis to transformation, reactivity and mechanism.

Silver(i) nanoclusters of carbazole-1,8-bis(acetylide): from visible to near-infrared emission

High-nuclearity silver(i) nanoclusters of carbazole-1,8-bis(acetylide) exhibit visible to near-infrared luminescence and gradual emission spectral red-shift with the stepwise increase of cluster nuclearity following Ag₈ → Ag₁₆ → Ag₂₉.

A Water-Stable Cl@Ag14 Cluster Based Metal-Organic Open Framework for Dichromate Trapping and Bacterial Inhibition

Decoding the principles of cluster-based framework assembly at the molecular level remains a persistent challenge. Herein, we isolated and characterized a novel water-stable three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic open framework [Cl@Ag₁₄(cPrC≡C)₁₀Cl₂·(p-TOS)·1/3H₂O]_n (SD/Ag14, cPrC≡CH = cyclopropylacetylene; p-TOS = p-toluenesulfonate), which contains a chloride-templated Ag₁₄ cluster as building block. For SD/Ag14, one chloride acts as the template to shape the Ag₁₄ cluster and the other bridges the clusters to a 3D pcu-h open framework. As revealed by high resolution electrospray mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS), the Ag₁₂-Ag₁₄ species are potential cluster-based intermediates to the 3D pcu-h framework, which authenticates a preconceived idea that the 3D framework is hierarchically assembled from the silver clusters as observed in solid state. Interestingly, SD/Ag14 can be used effectively to remove the environmental pollutant Cr₂O₇^2- from wastewater through anion exchange in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC-SC) transformation fashion. Furthermore, SD/Ag14 exhibits excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, thus making it a potential antibacterial agent.

Integration of acetylenic carbon clusters and silver clusters: template synthesis and stability enhancement

Three silver cluster complexes were synthesized with carbon network ligands as inner templates, including [(C≡C)2C=C(C≡C)2](4-), [C6(C≡C)6](6-) and [C6H(C≡C)5](5-). The resulting clusters 1-3 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography and other techniques. This study showcases a promising methodology to acquire intricate all-carbon units and provides a platform to investigate their chemistry.

Role of Anions Associated with the Formation and Properties of Silver Clusters

Metal clusters have been very attractive due to their aesthetic structures and fascinating properties. Different from nanoparticles, each cluster of a macroscopic sample has a well-defined structure with identical composition, size, and shape. As the disadvantages of polydispersity are ruled out, informative structure-property relationships of metal clusters can be established. The formation of a high-nuclearity metal cluster involves the organization of metal ions into a complex entity in an ordered way. To achieve controllable preparation of metal clusters, it is helpful to introduce a directing agent in the formation process of a cluster. To this end, anion templates have been used to direct the formation of high nuclearity clusters. In this Account, the role of anions played in the formation of a variety of silver clusters has been reviewed. Silver ions are positively charged, so anionic species could be utilized to control the formation of silver clusters on the basis of electrostatic interactions, and the size and shape of the resulted clusters can be dictated by the templating anions. In addition, since the anion is an integral component in the silver clusters described, the physical properties of the clusters can be modulated by functional anions. The templating effects of simple inorganic anions and polyoxometales are shown in silver alkynyl clusters and silver thiolate clusters. Intercluster compounds are also described regarding the importance of anions in determining the packing of the ion pairs and making contribution to electron communications between the positive and negative counterparts. The role of the anions is threefold: (a) an anion is advantageous in stabilizing a cluster via balancing local positive charges of the metal cations; (b) an anion template could help control the size and shape of a cluster product; (c) an anion can be a key factor in influencing the function of a cluster through bringing in its intrinsic properties. Properties including electron communication, luminescent thermochromism, single-molecule magnet, and intercluster charge transfer associated with anion-directed silver clusters have been discussed. We intend to attract chemists' attention to the role that anions could play in determining the structures and properties of metal complexes, especially clusters. We hope that this Account will stimulate more efforts in exploiting new role of anions in various metal cluster systems. Anions can do much more than counterions for charge balance, and they should be considered in the design and synthesis of cluster-based functional materials.

Dual templated synthesis of silver acetylide cluster-encapsulated supramolecular boxes

A dual-templated approach for the controllable synthesis of metal cluster complexes is described. By using an acetylide-containing anion with specific geometry as a central template and a macrocyclic coordinative compound as a peripheral one, two multinuclear silver-acetylide cluster-encapsulated supramolecular boxes were synthesized.

Silver(I) Double and Multiple Salts Containing the 1,3-Butadiynediide Dianion: Coordination Diversity and Assembly with the Supramolecular Synthon Ag4⊂CCCC⊃Ag4

A series of 13 silver(I) double and multiple salts containing 1,3-butadiynediide, C4(2-), were synthesized by dissolving the silver carbide Ag2C4 in a concentrated aqueous solution of one or more of the silver salts AgNO3, AgCF3CO2, AgC2F5CO2, AgF, AgBF4, and AgPF6. The 1,3-butadiynediide anion invariably adopts a mu4,mu4 coordination mode in these compounds, which indicates that the Ag4[cap]C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C[cap]Ag4 moiety can be used as a new type of metalloligand supramolecular synthon for the construction of coordination networks. Fine-tuning with various ancillary anionic ligands caused the Ag4 aggregate at each ethynide terminus to adopt a butterfly-shaped, planar, or barblike configuration, within which the silver-ethynide interactions can be classified into three types: sigma, pi, and mixed (sigma,pi). The effect of coexisting nitrile ligands and quaternary ammonium salts on supramolecular assembly with the above synthon was also explored. The hydrolysis of PF6(-) and BF4(-) led to the formation of the quadruple salt Ag2C4 x 4 AgNO3 x AgPF2O2 x Ag3PO4 and a novel (F)2(H2O)18 hydrogen-bonded tape in the triple salt Ag2C4 x 2 AgF x 10 AgC2F5CO2 x CH3CN x 12 H2O, respectively. The largest silver-ethynide cluster aggregate described to date, (C4)3@Ag18, occurs in 3 Ag2C4 x 12 AgC2F5CO2 x 5 [(BnMe3N)C2F5CO2] x 4 H2O (Bn = benzyl).

Multinuclear Silver Ethynide Supramolecular Synthons for the Construction of Coordination Networks

The invariant appearance of the mu8 coordination mode for the C4(2-) dianion in its silver(I) complexes, with four silver(I) atoms attached to each terminal ethynide moiety, implies that the Ag4[cap]C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C[cap]Ag4 species may be considered as a new type of supramolecular synthon for the construction of 1D, 2D, and 3D coordination polymers. This Focus Review covers recent results on the synthesis and structural characterization of silver(I) arylethynide and alkylethynide complexes, which established the existence and utility of analogous polynuclear supramolecular synthons R-C[triple bond]C[cap]Ag(n) (R = aryl or alkyl; n = 4, 5) and Ag(n)[cap]C2-R-C2[cap]Ag(n) (R = p-, m-, o-C6H4; n = 4, 5). The interplay of silver-ethynide bonding, which can be classified into sigma, pi, and mixed (sigma,pi) types, with argentophilicity, pi-pi stacking, and other weak interactions highlights the complexity and challenge in building coordination networks of silver ethynide complexes.

Novel μ5-Coordination Modes of Aryl and Alkyl Ethynides and Classification of Metal–Ligand Interactions in Silver(I) Complexes

Novel mu(5)-eta(1),eta(1),eta(1),eta(1),eta(2) and mu(5)-eta(1),eta(1),eta(1),eta(2),eta(2) coordination modes of alkyl and aryl ethynide moieties are found in silver(I) complexes 1-5, and the metal-ligand distances can be classified into sigma, pi and mixed (sigma,pi) types. With the consistent square-pyramidal capping Ag(5) baskets of the ethynide moiety as supramolecular synthons, a series of two- and three-dimensional coordination networks are obtained.

Recent Advances in Supramolecular Design and Assembly of Silver(I) Coordination Polymers

The supramolecular chemistry of Ag(i) coordination assemblies continues to attract attention due to their versatile structural diversity and potential physical and chemical functions. This article provides a short review of recent advances in the design and construction of Ag(i) coordination polymers with special emphasis on the Ag(i) ion coordination geometry, ligand functionality, and supramolecular interactions. The potential functions of Ag(i) coordination polymers are briefly summarized.

Assembly of Polymeric Silver(I) Complexes of Isomeric Phenylenediethynides with the Supramolecular Synthons Agn⊂ C2RC2 ⊃Agn (R = p-, m-, o-C6H4; n = 4, 5)

New Agn subset C2-R-C2 supersetAgn (R = p-, m-, o-C6H4; n = 4, 5) supramolecular synthons have been explored in the coordination network assembly of silver(I) complexes of the isomeric phenylenediethynides. An unprecedented mu5-eta1-coordination mode for the ethynide moiety and a mixed mu4,mu5-coordination mode for the o-phenylenediethynide group are observed, providing a rationale for the abundant occurrence of C2@Agn (n </= 10) polyhedral cages in double and multiple salts of silver acetylenediide.

Organometallic Coordination Polymers Generated from Bent Bis(acetylenylphenyl)oxadiazole Ligands and Ag(I) Salts

Two new bent oxadiazole bridging benzoacetylene ligands 2,5-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L9) and 2,5-bis(3-ethynylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L10) were synthesized. The coordination chemistry of them with various inorganic Ag(I) salts has been investigated. Seven new coordination polymers were prepared by solution reactions and fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [Ag2(L9)](SO3CF3)2 (1) (triclinic, P; a =10.292(4), b = 10.794(4), c = 11.399(5) A; alpha = 98.894(5), beta = 102.360(6), gamma = 90.319(5) degrees ; Z = 2), [Ag(L9)]SbF6 (2) (orthorhombic, Cmca; a = 19.059(9), b = 12.922(6), c = 15.609(7) A; Z = 8), [Ag(L9)]BF4 (3) (orthorhombic, Cmca; a = 19.128(3), b = 12.6042(18), c = 28.003(4) A; Z = 16), [Ag(L9)]ClO4 (4) (monoclinic, P2(1)/c; a = 8.5153(16), b = 19.722(4), c = 10.320(2) A; beta = 105.307(3) degrees ; Z = 4), [Ag(L10)]SO3CF3 (5) (triclinic, P; a = 9.0605(13), b = 10.4956(15), c = 10.8085(16) A; alpha = 101.666(2), beta = 109.269(2), gamma = 100.944(2) degrees ; Z = 2), [Ag(L10)(H2O)(0.5)]BF4.0.5H2O (6) (monoclinic, C2/m; a = 32.180(6), b = 17.027(3), c = 8.1453(15) A; beta = 102.541(3) degrees ; Z = 8), and {[Ag2(L10)2(H2O)](ClO4)2}.o-xylene (7) (monoclinic, P2(1)/c; a = 8.1460(10), b = 17.326(2), c = 30.345(4) A; beta = 97.71 degrees ; Z = 4) were obtained by the combination of L9 and L10 with various Ag(I) salts in a benzene/methylene chloride mixed solvent system. In addition, the luminescent and electrical conductive properties of these new compounds were investigated.