Supramolecular chemistry of the ligand N,N’-bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phthalamide and its complexes with gold(I) and silver(I)

The dicarboxamide–diphosphine ligand N,N′-bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phthalamide, dpppa, which is prepared from 2-diphenylphosphinoethylamine and phthaloyl chloride, forms the binuclear gold(I) complex [Au2Cl2(μ-dpppa)], 1, and polymeric complex [{Ag2(μ-O2CCF3)2(μ-dpppa)}n], 2. The ligand and both complexes 1 and 2 undergo further association through hydrogen bonding to give supramolecular polymer or network structures.