Synthesis and structural characterization of silver(I) double and multiple salts containing the acetylenediide dianion

A large family of crystalline compounds with silver acetylenediide (Ag 2 C 2 ) as a component have been synthesized and characterized. In most cases the C 2 2− species is enclosed in a silver(I) polyhedron of 6–10 vertices, which may be symbolized as C 2 @Ag n ( n = 6–10). In the present review, emphasis is laid on our systematic studies in the controlled generation and supramolecular assembly of C 2 @Ag n polyhedra to form discrete molecules and higher-dimensional aggregates with the aid of co-existing anions and ancillary ligands.