Anion-driven Ag(I) coordination architectures: structural diversity and photoluminescence behaviors

To observe anion impact on structural diversity of coordination architectures, three 1-D Ag(I) complexes with distinct features have been prepared, {[Ag(bpbib)₂(NO₃)]·C₃NH₉O)}_n (1), [Ag₂(bpbib)₂·(BF₄)₂]_n (2), and [Ag₂(bpbib)₂·(ClO₄)₂]_n (3), by the reactions of 4,4′-bis((2-(pyridin-2-yl)-¹H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)methyl)biphenyl (bpbib) with Ag(I) salts. Complex 1 is a 1-D helical chain, whereas 2 and 3 bear ligand-unsupported Ag(I)···Ag(I) interaction-directed 1-D structural motif, with synergetic working of flexible organic linker and anions. All complexes exhibit strong triplet state emission at cryogenic temperatures, which profits from the reduction of nonradiative transitions.