The Crystal Structure of Silver(I) Glycolate Hemihydrate

The silver(I) complex with glycolic acid, [Ag2(HOCH2CO2)2]n.nH2O, has been prepared and its structure determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure is based on a bis(carboxylato-O,O') dimer [Ag-O, 2.234(2), 2.253(2) ?; Ag-Ag 2.8810(9)?], extended in both the axial positions into a network polymer through two oxygens of a bidentate a-hydroxy carboxy residue [Ag-O(hydroxy), 2.607(2) ?; Ag-O(carboxy), 2.456(2)?; O-Ag-O, 63.45(5)']. In this respect, the complex is unique among silver(I) carboxylate dimers.