Anion dependent mesomorphism in coordination networks based on 2,2 '-bipyridine silver(I) complexes

The reaction of the promesogenic dihexadecyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylate (L(16)) with a number of AgX salts produces a series of silver(I) complexes [(L(16))Ag(sac)], 1, [(L(16))Ag(NO(3))], 2, [(L(16))Ag(OTf)], 3, and [(L(16))(3)Ag(2)](ClO(4))(2), 4, whose stoichiometries, molecular architectures, supramolecular networks and mesomorphic behaviour are "anion dependent". In spite of the large differences in the single molecular structure, the one-dimensional coordination networks involving the triflate and perchlorate in complexes 3 and 4, are the key element for inducing significant argentophilic intermolecular interactions responsible for the induction of lamello-columnar mesomorphism in both Ag( I) derivatives. Moreover, a series of Ag( I) triflate model complexes have been synthesized and in order to get more insights about their solid state architectures, systematic structural studies have been performed.