Tri-, hepta- and octa-nuclear Ag(I) complexes derived from 2-pyridyl-functionalized tris(amido)phosphate ligand.

Mild deprotonation of a 2-pyridyl (py)-functionalized phosphoric triamide [PO(NHpy)(3)] in the absence of an external base was studied in the presence of various silver(I) salts. Interesting examples of octa- and hepta-nuclear Ag(I) complexes coordinated to imido and pyridyl groups were obtained when more reactive Ag(I) salts, such as AgClO(4) and AgBF(4), were used, while the less reactive AgNO(3) reacts only with the peripheral pyridyl groups leading to a tri-nuclear cluster. Structural determination of these Ag(I) complexes show that sequential deprotonation of the ligand amino protons were achieved forming imido P(V) species analogous to the H(2)PO(4)(-) and HPO(4)(2-) ions.