Supramolecular networks of silver(I) and iron(II) complexes of the third generation tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3) (pz = pyrazolyl ring).

The new ligand Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3) (pz = pyrazolyl ring), prepared from the reaction of HOCH(2)C(pz)(3) and Ph(2)P(O)Cl in the presence of base, reacts with either AgBF(4) or Fe(BF(4))(2).6H(2)O in a 2/1 molar ratio to yield {Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3)Ag}(BF(4)) () and {Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3)Fe}(BF(4))(2) (), respectively. In the structure of , the silver is in an unusual planar geometry with each of the ligands in a kappa(2)-kappa(0) coordination mode. Slow evaporation of a thf solution of yields crystalline Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3)Ag(thf)(2)}(BF(4))(2) (). In each cationic unit of , the two Ph(2)(O)POCH(2)C(pz)(3) ligands coordinate to the same two silver(i) centers in a kappa(2)-kappa(1) bonding mode, with a silver atom separation of 3.36 A. The supramolecular structure of both and is dominated by a pair of cooperative hydrogen bonding interactions between the Ph(2)P(O) secondary tecton and a hydrogen atom from a methylene group situated on a neighboring building block, which arranges the cations in chains. The reaction of HC(pz)(3) and AgO(3)SCF(3) (AgOTf) yields {HC(pz)(3)Ag(2)}(OTf)(2) (). The cationic unit in has a structure very similar to that of , but with a much shorter distance between the silver atoms at 2.86 A. The supramolecular structure of is dominated by an unusual pyrazolyl embrace interaction where the acceptor ring in the C-Hpi interaction is the pyrazolyl ring kappa(1)-bonded to silver in the adjacent dimeric unit rather than the other ring in a kappa(2)-bonded Cpz(2) unit. This interaction arranges the cations in chains which are further organized into sheets by the triflate anions that link the chains via combined AgO/CHO interactions. The iron in is octahedral with each tris(pyrazolyl)methane unit in the kappa(3)-tripodal coordination mode. The supramolecular structure is sheets formed by hydrogen bonding between the Ph(2)P(O) oxygen and a meta-position hydrogen on one of the diphenylphosphine rings from an adjacent cation.