Review: Multimetallic silver(I)–pyridinyl complexes: coordination of silver(I) and luminescence

Abstract

This review highlights some structural features and luminescent properties of homo- and hetero-multinuclear silver(I)–pyridinyl complexes. It focuses on the coordination and geometry of the silver(I) ions to the pyridinyl-nitrogen. For this reason, we have considered only pyridinyl-N–Ag(I) complexes whose crystal data are available. In addition, this review does not consider mononuclear silver(I)–pyridinyl complexes as these have been reviewed elsewhere. This is motivated by the fact that multinuclear silver(I)–pyridinyl complexes have been shown to be more stable in solution, possess enhanced properties, and have fascinating structures compared to their mononuclear counterparts. The introduction highlights pyridinyl ligands used in complexation of silver(I) ions. The main body highlights complexation of silver(I) through pyridinyl nitrogen and the interactions found in the multinuclear silver(I)–pyridinyl complexes as well as the coordination number and geometry of silver(I) centers. Though silver(I) has been flaunted to prefer linear twofold coordination geometry, from this review, it is clear that higher coordination numbers in varied geometries are possible. These include distorted trigonal planar, T-shaped, distorted tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and octahedral geometries. Coordination of silver(I) to pyridinyl ligands and their metalloligands has been observed to impart or enhance luminescent properties in the ensuing complexes.