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

A large family of crystalline compounds with silver acetylenediide (Ag2C2) as a component have been synthesized and characterized. In most cases the C22− species is enclosed in a silver(I) polyhedron of 6–10 vertices, which may be symbolized as C2@Agn (n = 6–10). In the present review, emphasis is laid on our systematic studies in the controlled generation and supramolecular assembly of C2@Agn polyhedra to form discrete molecules and higher-dimensional aggregates with the aid of co-existing anions and ancillary ligands.