New N-heterocyclic carbene silver(I) and mercury(II) 2-D supramolecular layers by the π–π stacking interactions

Abstract

The precursor 1-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-3-alkylbenzimidazolium chlorides ( 1a, alkyl = C 4H 9, 1b, alkyl = C 6H 13) and their three new NHC silver(I) and mercury(II) complexes {[1-(9-anthracylmethyl)-3-alkylbimy]MCl} 2 ( 2a, alkyl = C 4H 9, M = Ag; 2b, alkyl = C 6H 13, M = Ag; 3a, alkyl = C 4H 9, M = Hg; bimy = benzimidazol-2-ylidene) have been prepared and characterized. The crystal structures of 2a, 2b and 3a showed that 2-D supramolecular layers are formed by both benzimidazole ring head to tail π–π stacking interactions and anthracene ring face-to-face π–π stacking interactions.