Self-assembly and X-ray structure of a triple helicate with two trigonal silver(I) termini

Reaction of the new ligand 1,3-bis(benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (1) with silver nitrate results in the efficient self-assembly, about two silver(I) atoms, of a saturated homotopic triple-stranded helicate (2), the X-ray crystal structure of which is described. It consists of two silver atoms bridged, in a helical sense, by three molecules of 1, each of which coordinates through the N3 nitrogens of the benzotriazole rings. The helicates further associate into a tetranuclear species with a relatively short Ag···Ag contact.