Facile Route to Silver Triarene Borate Salts, [Ag(arene)3][B(C6F5)4]: Thermodynamics, Structure, and Bonding

A facile synthesis and full characterization of a series of [Ag­(arene)3]­[B­(C6F5)4] salts (arene = C6H6, MeC6H5, EtC6H5, i-PrC6H5, n-PrC6H5, 1,2-Me2C6H4, 1,3-Me2C6H4, 1,4-Me2C6H4, 1,2,3-Me3C6H3, 1,2,4-Me3C6H3, 1,2,5-Me3C6H3, 1,2,3,5-Me4C6H2, 1,2,4,5-Me4C6H2, Me5C6H, Me6C6) are presented. With AgC6F5 and B­(C6F5)3 and the arene as solvent as starting materials, highly pure, crystalline [Ag­(arene)3]­[B­(C6F5)4] salts are obtained in good yields. The thermodynamics, structure, and bonding of these [Ag­(arene)3]+ salts, which are dependent on the bulkiness and substitution pattern at the arene, are discussed on the basis of X-ray and theoretical studies.