Herein, we describe the preparation of heteronuclear dirhodium-silver complexes by reaction between molecular Rh(II)-Rh(II) compounds [Rh₂(μ-O₂CR)₄L₂] (R = Me, Ph (1), CH₂OEt (2); L = solvent molecules) with paddlewheel structure and PPh₄[Ag(CN)₂]. One-dimensional coordination polymers of (PPh₄)n[Rh₂(μ-O₂CR)₄Ag(CN)₂]n (R = Me (3), Ph (4), CH₂OEt (5)) formula have been obtained by replacement of the two labile molecules in the axial positions of the paddlewheel structures by a [Ag(CN)₂]- bridging unit. The crystal structures of 3⁻5 display a similar arrangement, having anionic chains with a wavy structure and bulky (PPh₄)⁺ cations placed between the chains. The presence of the (PPh₄)⁺ cations hinders the existence of intermolecular Ag-Ag interactions although several C-H····π interactions have been observed. A similar reaction between [Rh₂(μ-O₂CCMe₃)₄(HO₂CCMe₃)₂] and PPh₄[Ag(CN)₂] led to the molecular compound (PPh₄)₂{Rh₂(μ-O₂CCMe₃)₄[Ag(CN)₂]₂} (6) by replacement of the axial HO₂CCMe₃ ligands by two [Ag(CN)₂]- units. The trimethylacetate ligand increases the solubility of the complex during the crystallization favouring the formation of discrete heteronuclear species.
Keywords: dicyano-argentate complexes; dirhodium compounds; heteronuclear; one-dimensional; phenyl embrace; rhodium-silver chains.