1D coordination polymers of silver(I) and copper(II) based on bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands: Synthesis and structural studies

The alkyl chain-linked diimidazolium (or dibenzimidazolium) salts, 1,1′-diethyl-4,4′-tetramethylene-diimidazolium-diiodide (L1H2·I2) and 1,1′-diethyl-3,3′-trimethylene-dibenzimidazolium-diiodide (L2H2·I2), and their silver(I) and copper(II) coordination polymers, [L1AgI]n (1) and [L2Cu2I4]n (2), have been prepared and characterized. Complex 1 is a 1D helical polymer generated by bidentated carbene ligands (L1) and Ag(I) atoms. The 1D polymer of 2 is formed by bidentated carbene ligands (L2) and coplanar quadrilateral Cu2I2 units. 3D supramolecular frameworks in the crystal packings of 1 and 2 are formed via intermolecular weak interactions, including C–H···π contacts, π–π interactions and C–H···I hydrogen bonds.