Polymeric anionic silver(I) complexes {Cat[Ag[B10H10]]}n (Cat = Pr4N+, Ph4P+, Ph4As+) with facial and edge-facial coordination of the boron cluster

The reaction between Cat2[B10H10] (Cat = Pr4N+, Ph4P+ and Ph4As+) and AgNO3 in acetonitrile afforded solids {Cat[Ag[B10H10]]}n (1–3, respectively) which have been isolated and characterized by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. According to the X-ray diffraction data obtained, these compounds are 1D coordination polymers built of alternating silver atoms and closo-decaborate anions. The chains are packed parallel and separated by cations Cat. The closo-decaborate anion is coordinated by the silver atom via two equatorial BBB faces (in 1) and through an equatorial face and an equatorial edge of the boron cage anion (in 2). These types of coordination have not been previously observed in polymeric anionic silver(I) compounds with the boron clusters. In compound 3, the boron cluster anion is disordered over four positions and the type of coordination cannot be determined unambiguously. Overall, the Ag–H and Ag–B distances vary from 2.423(4) to 2.762(4) and from 2.09 to 2.81 Å, respectively.