Structural diversity of two 1,2,4-triazole based N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver(I)

Abstract

Two silver(I) complexes of the [(NHC)2Ag]+Y− type bearing two different triazole-based N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, [1-tert-butyl-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium-5-ylidene and 1-tert-butyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium-5-ylidene], were synthesized according to the modified ‘silver salt’ method. The characterization of the respective complexes in solution by NMR spectroscopy, as well as in solid state by X-ray diffraction techniques, revealed the formation of two different complexes with either an anti or a syn geometry.