Interactions of biotin with metal ions. X-ray crystal structure of the polymeric biotin--silver(I) nitrate complex: metal bonding to thioether and ureido carbonyl groups.

X-ray structure analysis of the silver(I) complex of d-(+)-biotin, [Ag(biotin)(NO3)] X 0.5H2O, shows the complex to be polymeric with the silver ion coordinated tetrahedrally to nitrate and to three different biotin molecules. Binding to the latter involves two thioether sulfur atoms in the cis and trans direction with respect to the ureido ring, and one ureido carbonyl oxygen atom. The biotin carboxylate group is probably protonated and not coordinated with the silver ion.