An NHC silver(i) macrometallocycle: synthesis, structure and selective recognition of iodide anions

Abstract

A bis-benzimidazolium salt with oligoether-linker LH₂·(PF₆)₂ and its 13-membered N-heterocyclic carbene silver(I) crown ether 1 have been synthesized and characterized. The coordination geometry of the silver(I) ion of 1 is nearly linear with a C(7)–Ag(1)–C(23) bond angle of 179.6(1)°. In the crystal packing of 1, a 2D supramolecular layer is formed by π–π stacking interactions from benzimidazole rings. In particular, the selective recognition of I⁻ using 1 as a receptor was studied on the basis of fluorescence and UV/vis spectroscopic titrations.