N-Heterocyclic carbene stabilized Ag–P nanoclusters

Abstract

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) 1,3-di-isopropylbenzimidazole-2-ylidene ((i)Pr2-bimy) is found to be an excellent ligand for the stabilization of silver-phosphorus polynuclear complexes. The straightforward preparation and characterization of the clusters [Ag12(PSiMe3)6((i)Pr2-bimy)6] (1) and [Ag26P2(PSiMe3)10((i)Pr2-bimy)8] (2) are described, representing the first examples of such structurally characterized, higher nuclearity complexes obtained using this class of ligands.