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The reaction of [Re(OTf)(CO)5] with N-methylimidazole (MeIm) afforded [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]OTf (1). The reactions of 1 with KPF6, NaBPh4 and NaBAr′4 (Ar′ = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) afforded [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]PF6 (2) [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]BPh4 (3) and [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]BAr′4 (4) respectively. An analogous reaction using N-phenylimidazole (PhIm) yielded [Re(CO)3(PhIm)3]BAr′4 (7). These new compounds were characterized by IR and NMR, and the structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction. Compounds [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]2[PtCl6] (5), [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3][HSO4] (6), [Re(CO)3(PhIm)3][Br] (8) and [Re(CO)3(PhIm)3][NO3] (9) were crystallized from equimolar mixtures of either 4 or 7 and the tetrabutylammonium salt of the corresponding anion, and their structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. The solution behavior of 1–4, 7 toward several anions was studied spectroscopically, including the quantitative determination of binding constants by 1H NMR. The cationic tris(imidazole)complexes are stable against imidazole-by-anion substitution, and the main hydrogen bonding interactions involve the imidazole NC(H)N groups. The binding constants for compounds 1–4 with several external anions follow the order 1 PF6− > BPh4− > BAr′4−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New anion hosts have been accessed using cationic organometallic fragments with sufficient kinetic stability as geometry-organizing cores, simple ditopic ligands featuring hydrogen bond donor groups, and the inert, low interacting, lipophilic BAr′4 anion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]