Novel pincer complexes of Ag(I), coordination of toluene and their comparison with indium analogues

Dalton Trans. 2011 May 7;40(17):4394-6. doi: 10.1039/c1dt10411j. Epub 2011 Mar 28.

Abstract

The bis(imino)pyridine scaffold provides for the synthesis and characterization of the unique Ag(I) pincer complexes [{ArN=CPh}(2)(NPh)]Ag(+)(OTf)(-) (Ar = 2,5-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(3); 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)). The similar covalent radii of Ag(I) and In(I), prompted a bonding comparison of these species with their In(I) analogues. Coordination of toluene to the Ag center revealed the stronger Lewis acidity of the metal site in these compounds relative to In(I) analogues.