Anion-triggered structural diversity of binuclear-based Ag(I) coordination architectures and rich luminescence properties

To pursuit the subtle influence exerted on the structure by the anions, two new complexes, namely [Ag(pbmb)·SO3CF3]n 1, and [Ag(pbmb)·ClO4]n 2 have been constructed by the reaction of a V-shaped flexible ligand 1-((2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzoimidazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-benzotriazole (pbmb) and corresponding silver salts under solvothermal conditions. Single crystal analysis shows that the binuclear-based 1 and 2 are 1D motifs with different structural features, especially for complex 1 with the shortest Ag⁎⁎⁎Ag distance of 2.928 Å. Both complex 1 and 2 exhibit rich luminescent behaviors at temperatures 10–298 K, whereas complex 1 manifests stronger phosphorescence by comparison with 2.