Helical complexes from the self-assembly of silver salts and the polydentate thioether α,α′-bis(8-thioquinoline)-m-xylene

The self assembly of AgX with the sulfur-containing multidentate ligand α,α′-bis(8-thioquinoline)-m-xylene (m-XYTQ) affords two isomorphous complexes [Ag(m-XYTQ)]nXn (X=ClO41; X=BF42). Single crystal X-ray analyses revealed the complexes to contain linear cationic chains of [Ag(m-XYTQ)]nn+ in helical arrangement and the anions are discrete. Intramolecular π⋯π stackings pack the asymmetric units [Ag(m-XYTQ)] in shelves-like arrays while interchain π⋯π interactions between racemic chains constructed the 2D network. The key to helix formation is the folding at the sulfur sites of the spacer xylylene in the ligand. The complexes were also characterized by 1H NMR and IR.