Publication
A novel N-heterocyclic tridentate polycarbene ligand has been synthesized and stabilized as its corresponding silver complex. An electronic structure investigation reveals significant pi-bonding interactions within the Ag-carbene unit of the [(TIMEMe)2Ag3]3+ cation. Thus, reaction of [1,1,1-tris(3-methylimidazolium-1-yl)methyl]ethane tribromide (1a; {TIMEMe3}, prepd. via reaction of 1,1,1-tris(bromomethyl)ethane with N-methylimidazole) with NH4PF6 in MeOH gave TIMEMe3 (1b). Reaction of 1a and 1b with Ag2O in DMSO gave title compds., (TIMEMe)2Ag3 (2a) and (TIMEMe)2Ag33 (2b) resp. The crystal structures of 1a, 2a, and 2b were detd. and electronic structures via DFT calcns. were discussed. [on SciFinder (R)]