Synthesis and structure of silver and rhodium 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene mesoionic carbene complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om201104f

New mono- and bidentate 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene mesoionic carbene (MIC) ligands have been synthesized and reacted with silver oxide, forming cationic 1:2 and 2:2 Ag:MIC ([AgL₂]Br and [Ag₂L₂] [Ag₂Br₄]) complexes, respectively. These complexes have been isolated and characterized. They were further found to be potent transmetalation agents toward rhodium, resulting in the preparation of mono- and bimetallic rhodium complexes. The reaction of the 2:2 Ag:L complex with [Rh(COD)₂]BF₄ results in the first reported example of a cationic bimetallic rhodium MIC complex. This complex was fully characterized, and its X-ray structure is reported. Interestingly, this complex exhibits various secondary noncovalent interactions in the solid state of the general type C-HX, where X = F, Cl.