Structural diversity of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver(i)

Seven N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver(I) have been synthesized, five of which were structurally characterized. Polymeric AgI-carbene complexes with a diverse range of structures are formed through extended AgI–AgI interactions, AgI-bridging halides, AgI-bridging dicarbenes, and ring π–π interactions. Compounds having extended AgI–AgI-centered interactions exhibit low energy emission bands at λmax ≈ 540 nm. These bands are assigned to metal-centered transitions involving extended AgI–AgI interactions.