Synthesis and structural characterization of adducts of silver(I) carboxylate salts AgX (X = CF3COO, CH3COO) with ER3 (E = P, As; R = Ph, cy, o-tolyl) and oligodentate aromatic bases derivative of 2,2′-bipyridyl, L, AgX:PR3:L (1:1:1)

Twenty-one adducts of the form AgX:ER3:L (1:1:1) (X = CF3COO (‘tfa’), CH3COO (‘ac’), E = P, As; R = Ph, cy, o-tolyl; L = 2,2′-bipyridyl (‘bpy’)-based ligand) have been synthesized and characterized by analytical, spectroscopic (IR, far-IR, 1H, 19F and 31P NMR) and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The resulting complexes are predominantly of the form [(R3E)AgL]+X−, with a trigonal EAgN2 coordination environment, the planarity of which may be perturbed by the approach of anion or solvent. The carboxylate anions have been found to be uni-, or semi-bidentate, or also completely ionic, as in the complexes [Ag(PPh3)(bpy)(H2O)](tfa) and [Ag(PPh3)(dpk · H2O)](tfa) (‘dpk · H2O’ = bis(2-pyridyl)ketone (hydrated)). The complexes Agac:PPh3:dpa (1:1:1) and Agac:P(o-tol)3:dpa:MeCN (1:1:1:1) are dinuclear, with bridging unidentate acetate and terminal unidentate dpa (‘dpa’ = bis(2-pyridyl)amine).