Six low-dimensional silver(I) coordination complexes derived from 2-aminobenzonitrile and carboxylates

Six new Ag(I) coordination complexes, [Ag(abn)(4-cba)]2 (1), [Ag(abn)(3-cba)]2 (2), [Ag(abn)(fba)]2 (3), [Ag(abn)(3-mba)]2 (4), [Ag(abn)(moba)]2 (5), [Ag(abn)2(4-mba)]n (6), (abn = 2-aminobenzonitrile, 4-cbaH = 4-chlorobenzoic acid, 3-cbaH = 3-chlorobenzoic acid, Hfba = 3-fluorobenzoic acid, 3-mbaH = 3-methylbenzoic acid, Hmoba = 2-methoxybenzoic acid and 4-mbaH = 4-methylbenzoic acid), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1–4 are similar discrete binuclear Ag(I) motif containing monodentate μ1-Namino abn and μ2-η1:η1 carboxylates. The complementary Namino–H⋯Ncyano hydrogen bonds link the binuclear motifs into 1D chain which is further extended into 2D supramolecular sheet by Namino–H⋯Ocarboxyl hydrogen bonds. Notably, the electronic effect of substituents in 1–4 has deeply influence on the Ag⋯Ag interaction. Complex 5 is also a discrete binuclear Ag(I) motif but contains a monodentate μ1-Ncyano abn ligand. The 1D chain was observed in complex 6 where two different abn ligands with μ1-Ncyano and μ2-Ncyano, Namino coordination modes coexist and 4-mba is a chelating μ1-η1:η1 ligand. The results show that the different structures are predominantly attributed to the various ancillary carboxylate ligands and diverse coordination modes of abn ligand. Moreover, the emissive behaviors of them are discussed.