A heterobimetallic copper(I)–silver(I) complex spanned by 4,4′-bipyridine

Cationic heterobimetallic {[P(C6H4CH2NMe2-2)3]Ag-bipy-Cu[P(C6H4CH2NMe2-2)3]}2+(OTf−,PF6−) (5) (bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine, OTf=OSO2CF3) is accessible by the subsequent reaction of [P(C6H4CH2NMe2-2)3]AgOTf (1) with bipy (2) to afford {[P(C6H4CH2NMe2-2)3]Ag(bipy)}+(OTf−) (3), which on treatment with equimolar amounts of {[P(C6H4CH2NMe2-2)3]Cu}+(PF6−) (4) produces 5. In 5 the respective group-11 metal(I) centres are bridged by the π-conjugated organic ligand bipy. The electrochemical behaviour of 5 is reported.