Structural variations of silver ethylene complexes supported by boron-protected fluorinated scorpionates and the isolation of a ligand-directed silver helix.

Silver(I) ethylene adducts [PhB(3-(CF3)Pz)3]Ag(C2H4) and [MeB(3-(CF3)Pz)3]Ag(C2H4) have been synthesized using the corresponding lithium salts, AgOTf, and ethylene. X-ray data show that [PhB(3-(CF3)Pz)3]Ag(C2H4) has a planar three-coordinate silver center whereas [MeB(3-(CF3)Pz)3]Ag(C2H4) features a tetrahedral silver site. The ethylene-free {[PhB(3-(CF3)Pz)3]Ag}n adopts a helical structure with a hexagonal pore.