Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of a Hexane-Soluble Silver Salt

Abstract

Metal phosphonates are an important class of compounds with applications in chemistry and material science. Despite an intense amount of research over the last few decades, the solution characterization of these species remains limited owing to poor solubility in common organic solvents. This article describes the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of a rare class of organosoluble metal phosphonate complexes. The synthesis of Ag[P(O)(OC8H17)2] is straightforward and can be accomplished in a single three-hour laboratory period with minimal preparation. To the best of our knowledge, Ag[P(O)(OC8H17)2] exhibits the largest 1JAgP coupling constants (107Ag, 109Ag) ever reported, which clearly establishes that the bonding mode of the phosphonate fragment is through phosphorus and not through oxygen.