Solution and solid-state complexes of the potentially tetradentate pyridyl-thiazole ligand 6,6′-bis(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine with CoII, NiII, CuII, CdII, HgII, CuI and AgI

In solution, the potentially tetradentate N-donor ligand L1 reacts with transition metal dications (CoII, NiII, CuII, CdII and HgII) and monocations (CuI and AgI) to give mononuclear [M(L1)]2+ and dinuclear double stranded helicate [M2(L1)2]2+ structures, respectively. For complexes of L1 with CoII, NiII, CuII, CdII, HgII and CuI, the species present in solution are retained in the solid-state. However, for complexes of L1 with AgI, anion-templating effects give rise to solid-state structures comprised of either mononuclear (with NO3-orBF4-) or helicate (with OTf−) complexes.