Syntheses and photophysical properties of a series of [2:2] silver(I) metallocycles

A series of methoxy-protected N2O4-donor Schiff base ligands have been synthesised and fully characterised including X-ray crystallography. Upon complexation with silver(I) [2:2] metallocycles have been formed of various sizes from 10-membered to 24-membered depending on the diamine of the ligand used in forming the Schiff base. The luminescence behaviour of the silver dimers has been studied and the smallest metallocycle shows argentophilic interactions in the solid state.