Silver(I) Complexes with a Bulky Anthracene‐Based Dicarboxylic Ligand: Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Luminescent Properties

To explore the influence of anthracene skeleton with a larger conjugated π‐system on the structures and properties of its complexes, two Ag I –carboxylate complexes based on anthracene‐9,10‐dicarboxylate (L) were synthesized and characterized: [{[Ag(L)][Ag(dmpy) 2 ]} ∞ ] ( 1 ) and [{[Ag 2 (L)(bipy) 2 ]} ∞ ] ( 2 ) (dmpy = 2,6‐dimethylpyridine and bipy = 4,4′‐bipyridine). Complex 1 has an interesting framework consisting of anionic chains {[Ag(L)] – } ∞ and the mononuclear cationic units [Ag(dmpy) 2 ] + , which is further assembled to form networks along the different crystallographic directions by the intermolecular C–H ··· Ag hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Complex 2 takes a ladder‐like chain structure by incorporating 4,4′‐bipyridine (bipy) as a bridging co‐ligand, which is further interlinked to generate a planar network through interchain Ag–Ag bonding contacts. The steric bulk of anthracene ring in L may play an important role in the formation of 1 and 2 . Moreover, the luminescent properties of the 1 and 2 were investigated in detail.