Metallosupramolecular silver complexes of bis- and tetrakis-(2-pyridylsulfanylmethyl)benzenes

The three isomeric bis(2-pyridylsulfanylmethyl)benzenes and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(2-pyridylsulfanylmethyl)benzene have been prepared by reactions of pyridine-2-thiol with the appropriate poly(bromomethyl)benzene, in the presence of triethylamine, in good yields. Each of these new ligands reacts with silver nitrate, in excellent yield, to give co-ordination complexes in which the ligands bridge two or more metal centres. The crystal structures of these complexes have been determined. The para-disubstituted isomer self-assembles into a M2L2 macrocyclic dimer. The other ligands form one-dimensional metallopolymers containing complex networks of interconnected macrocyclic rings. In the crystal packings pi-pi stacking interactions between aromatic rings are observed.