Methanol solvation of the Ag+ ion probed with infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of Ag+(CH3OH)n (n = 1-5)

► The Ag+(CH3OH)n ions prefer a coordination number of 3. ► The Ag+(CH3OH)n ions adopt a distorted trigonal coordination. ► The distortion can be ascribed to the 5s-4d hybridization in Ag+. ► Coordination geometries are different from those of Ag(I) in solution.