Design and syntheses of silver(I) complexes assembled from bis(pyridyl) ligands with chelating spacer: [2 + 2] metallomacrocyclic motif vs snake-shape chain

Two novel silver(I) complexes, [Ag2(H2L)2(NO3)2]2(NO3)8 (1) and [Ag1.5L]n(NO3)1.5n·nH2O (2) (L = 1,2-bis(3′-pyridylmethylamino)ethane), have been constructed from bis(pyridyl) ligand with chelating spacer through controlling experimental condition. This two complexes exhibit [2 + 2] metallomacrocyclic motif and snake-shape chain. Complex 1 may present a classic case that incorporates an inorganic anion induced supramolecular system in the coordination complex.