A Molecular Bis(isocyanide)silver(I) Nitrate Complex

Bis(p-tolylsulfonylmethylisocyanide)silver nitrate is obtained from the reaction of the isocyanide ligand with silver nitrate in chloroform regardless of the applied ratio of the reactands (1:1 or 2:1). The crystal structure of the product has been determined. In the complex molecule with C2 symmetry, the nitrate anion is attached to the silver center as an η2-chelating ligand. Owing to this approach of the NO3 ligand, the RNC-Ag-CNR axis (R = 4-Me-C6H4-SO2-CH2) is bent [from 180 to 162.1(2)◦], but the geometry of the nitrate is not significantly distorted, suggesting only weak coordinative bonding. The structure is thus intermediate between that of a molecular complex with a tetrahedral coordination and that of an ionic compound with linear coordination of the silver center.