Coordination chemistry of Ag(i) with bridging ligands based on pyrazolyl–pyridine termini: polymers, helicates and a bow-tie

Abstract

A series of Ag(I) complexes has been prepared containing bridging ligands based on two pyrazolyl–pyridine ligands connected by a flexible spacer. Crystallographic investigations reveal a remarkable range of structural types from simple mononuclear complexes to dinuclear double helicates, a distorted ‘bow-tie’ metallamacrocycle, and one-dimensional chains including a triple helical chain based on double helical molecular units linked by Ag⋯Ag contacts. The different structures arise as a result of the different interactions dominating in each complex, including aromatic π-stacking, Ag⋯Ag interactions, exocyclic lone pair interactions and inter-ligand π-stacking.