Complexation-induced distortion of a naphthalene unit symmetrically-substituted by two (N,N,P) ligands

Binuclear complexes [M2(μ-BPNNNa)] [image]2 (M = CuI, 1; M = AgI, 2) were prepared by reaction of 1,5-bis [{6-(diphenylphosphanyl)-2-pyridylmethyl}n-propylamino methyl]naphthalene (BPNNNa) with M(CH3CN)4 BF4 in CH2Cl2 and were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In complexes 1and 2, BPNNNa acts as a chelating ligand and two dppy (2-(diphenylphosphino) pyridine) units with two metal atoms are linked together in head-to-tail mode to form an eight-membered ring, which exhibits an eclipsed conformation. A significant feature in complexes 1 and 2 is the deformation of the flat naphthalene unit, in which the two aryl moieties make an angle of 10.3° (1) and 7.2° (2), respectively. A weak Ag⋯Ag interaction is present in the complex 2.