metal-organic compounds\(\def\hfill{\hskip 5em}\def\hfil{\hskip 3em}\def\eqno#1{\hfil {#1}}\)

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ISSN: 2414-3146

Cyanidotris(1,3,5-tri­aza-7-phosphaadamantane)silver(I) tetra­hydrate

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aSchool of Agriculture and Science, Discipline of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa, and bDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524 Auckland, Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
*Correspondence e-mail: [email protected]

Edited by I. Brito, University of Antofagasta, Chile (Received 17 October 2025; accepted 21 October 2025; online 24 October 2025)

The title compound, [Ag(CN)(PTA)3]·4H2O, is a water-soluble discrete silver(I) complex where the silver center is coordinated by three phospho­rus atoms from distinct 1,3,5-tri­aza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA, C6H12N3P) ligands and one carbon atom from a cyanide ion, forming a distorted tetra­hedral geometry. The asymmetric unit consisting of a [AgCN(PTA)3/2)] unit and two water mol­ecules. The Ag—P bond distances range from 2.4696 (4) to 2.4728 (6) Å, and the Ag—C bond distance is 2.168 (2) Å, while the bond angles around the silver center vary between 107.402 (13) and 111.07 (3)°, confirming its distorted tetra­hedral coordination environment. Inter­molecular O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds in the crystal packing of the title compound generate a two-dimensional supra­molecular architecture with a corrugated sheet-like topology that extends along the crystallographic bc plane.

3D view (loading...)
[Scheme 3D1]
Chemical scheme
[Scheme 1]

Structure description

The cage-like, monodentate phosphine ligand 1,3,5-tri­aza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) and its derivatives have attracted significant attention due to their exceptional solubility in aqueous media, attributed to their unique structure featuring a soft phospho­rus donor and three hard nitro­gen atoms (Krogstad et al., 2007View full citation). PTA typically coordinates metals via the phospho­rus atom in a monodentate fashion (PTA-κP), while its nitro­gen atoms offer additional coordination possibilities that influence the structure and function of metal complexes (Darensbourg et al., 1997View full citation). Silver(I) ions form stable and soluble complexes with PTA, enhancing their suitability for applications in catalysis (Phillips et al., 2004View full citation), medicinal chemistry (Guerriero & Gonsalvi, 2021View full citation), and photoluminescence (Sierra-Martin et al., 2018View full citation). Herein, the synthesis and crystal structure of the discrete monomeric complex [Ag(CN)(PTA)3]·4H2O, containing silver(I) coordinated by PTA and cyanide, are reported.

The asymmetric unit of title compound (Fig. 1[link]) comprises a discrete [AgCN(PTA)3/2] unit and two water mol­ecules, with the full mol­ecule generated by the symmetry operation x, Mathematical equation − y, z. It is a neutral discrete complex where the silver(I) center is coordinated by three phospho­rus atoms from three distinct PTA ligands and one carbon atom from the nitrile ion, resulting in a distorted tetra­hedral geometry around the Ag centre. The bond angles around Ag1 range from 107.402 (13) to 111.07 (3)°, with Ag—P bond distances between 2.4696 (4) and 2.4728 (6) Å and an Ag—C bond distance of 2.168 (2) Å. The crystal structure exhibits an intricate hydrogen-bonding network involving both water mol­ecules and the discrete [Ag(CN)(PTA)3] units. One water mol­ecule, O1, participates in two distinct hydrogen bonds, in one of which it links adjacent silver complexes through O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds involving nitro­gen atoms N2 and N6, forming hydrogen-bonded motifs described by the graph-set notation R44(16) (Table 1[link], Fig. 2[link]). In the second, O1 acts as a hydrogen-bond acceptor while O2 functions as a donor, connecting through O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds to N3 of an adjacent [Ag(CN)(PTA)3] complex. This inter­action leads to the formation of a larger hydrogen-bonded ring which can be described by graph-set notation R66(20) (Fig. 2[link]). Overall, these O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate a two-dimensional supra­molecular architecture with a corrugated sheet-like topology that extends along the crystallographic bc plane as shown in Fig. 3[link].

Table 1
Hydrogen-bond geometry (Å, °)

D—H⋯A D—H H⋯A DA D—H⋯A
O1—H1A⋯N6 0.87 1.97 2.8379 (19) 172
O1—H1B⋯N2i 0.87 1.98 2.8518 (18) 178
O2—H2C⋯O1ii 0.87 1.93 2.7931 (19) 174
O2—H2D⋯N3iii 0.87 2.01 2.8796 (19) 176
Symmetry codes: (i) Mathematical equation; (ii) Mathematical equation; (iii) Mathematical equation.
[Figure 1]
Figure 1
Mol­ecular structure of the title compound with ellipsoids drawn at the 50% probability level.
[Figure 2]
Figure 2
Representation of the inter­molecular O—H⋯O (red dotted lines) and O—H⋯N (blue dotted lines) hydrogen bond in the crystal packing of the title compound.
[Figure 3]
Figure 3
Representation of the 2-D supra­molecular structure of the title compound. The silver and phospho­rus atoms are drawn as blue- and purple-colored polyhedra, respectively, while the water mol­ecules are drawn using a space-filling model. The inter­molecular O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds are shown as red and blue dotted lines, respectively.

Synthesis and crystallization

A methanol solution of PTA (3.84 g, 8.14 mmol) was mixed with aqueous KAg(CN)2 (3.00 g, 8.14 mmol). The solution volume was reduced by rotary evaporation, then aceto­nitrile (40 ml) was added to form a cloudy solution. The solvent was reduced using a rotary evaporator to give a white solid, which was isolated by vacuum filtration, washed with 2 × 5 ml of cold ethanol, and dried in vacuo. X-ray quality crystals were obtained by taking an aliquot of cloudy solution after the addition of aceto­nitrile and leaving it to stand overnight at room temperature.

Refinement

Crystal data, data collection and structure refinement details are summarized in Table 2[link].

Table 2
Experimental details

Crystal data
Chemical formula [Ag(CN)(C6H12N3P)3]·4H2O
Mr 677.42
Crystal system, space group Orthorhombic, Pnma
Temperature (K) 173
a, b, c (Å) 11.9813 (4), 20.8423 (7), 12.2359 (4)
V3) 3055.52 (18)
Z 4
Radiation type Mo Kα
μ (mm−1) 0.86
Crystal size (mm) 0.35 × 0.26 × 0.2
 
Data collection
Diffractometer Bruker APEXII CCD
No. of measured, independent and observed [I > 2σ(I)] reflections 62216, 3898, 3438
Rint 0.036
(sin θ/λ)max−1) 0.667
 
Refinement
R[F2 > 2σ(F2)], wR(F2), S 0.024, 0.058, 1.11
No. of reflections 3898
No. of parameters 184
H-atom treatment H-atom parameters constrained
Δρmax, Δρmin (e Å−3) 0.43, −0.39
Computer programs: COSMO and SAINT (Bruker, 2009View full citation), SHELXS (Sheldrick, 2008View full citation), SHELXL2018/3 (Sheldrick, 2015View full citation) and OLEX2 (Dolomanov et al., 2009View full citation).

Structural data


Computing details top

Cyanidotris(1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane)silver(I) tetrahydrate top
Crystal data top
[Ag(CN)(C6H12N3P)3]·4H2ODx = 1.473 Mg m3
Mr = 677.42Mo Kα radiation, λ = 0.71073 Å
Orthorhombic, PnmaCell parameters from 9406 reflections
a = 11.9813 (4) Åθ = 2.4–28.1°
b = 20.8423 (7) ŵ = 0.86 mm1
c = 12.2359 (4) ÅT = 173 K
V = 3055.52 (18) Å3Plate, colourless
Z = 40.35 × 0.26 × 0.2 mm
F(000) = 1408
Data collection top
Bruker APEXII CCD
diffractometer
Rint = 0.036
Graphite monochromatorθmax = 28.3°, θmin = 1.9°
φ and ω scansh = 1515
62216 measured reflectionsk = 2327
3898 independent reflectionsl = 1616
3438 reflections with I > 2σ(I)
Refinement top
Refinement on F20 restraints
Least-squares matrix: fullHydrogen site location: mixed
R[F2 > 2σ(F2)] = 0.024H-atom parameters constrained
wR(F2) = 0.058 w = 1/[σ2(Fo2) + (0.0231P)2 + 1.851P]
where P = (Fo2 + 2Fc2)/3
S = 1.11(Δ/σ)max = 0.001
3898 reflectionsΔρmax = 0.43 e Å3
184 parametersΔρmin = 0.39 e Å3
Special details top

Geometry. All esds (except the esd in the dihedral angle between two l.s. planes) are estimated using the full covariance matrix. The cell esds are taken into account individually in the estimation of esds in distances, angles and torsion angles; correlations between esds in cell parameters are only used when they are defined by crystal symmetry. An approximate (isotropic) treatment of cell esds is used for estimating esds involving l.s. planes.

Refinement. Refinement of F2 against ALL reflections. The weighted R-factor wR and goodness of fit S are based on F2, conventional R-factors R are based on F, with F set to zero for negative F2. The threshold expression of F2 > 2sigma(F2) is used only for calculating R-factors(gt) etc. and is not relevant to the choice of reflections for refinement. R-factors based on F2 are statistically about twice as large as those based on F, and R- factors based on ALL data will be even larger.

Fractional atomic coordinates and isotropic or equivalent isotropic displacement parameters (Å2) top
xyzUiso*/UeqOcc. (<1)
Ag10.62465 (2)0.7500000.41337 (2)0.02013 (6)
P10.55217 (3)0.84680 (2)0.32110 (3)0.02075 (9)
P20.55002 (5)0.7500000.60179 (5)0.02143 (13)
N10.90084 (18)0.7500000.41775 (17)0.0290 (5)
N20.54207 (11)0.92245 (7)0.13404 (11)0.0223 (3)
N30.54339 (11)0.98006 (7)0.31065 (11)0.0237 (3)
N40.37430 (11)0.92177 (6)0.25146 (11)0.0214 (3)
N50.37219 (16)0.7500000.74784 (15)0.0217 (4)
N60.54111 (12)0.80939 (7)0.80538 (11)0.0241 (3)
C10.80555 (19)0.7500000.41643 (17)0.0189 (4)
C20.59015 (14)0.92665 (8)0.37527 (14)0.0246 (4)
H2A0.5631750.9301910.4515080.030*
H2B0.6724930.9305430.3764990.030*
C30.40053 (13)0.86158 (8)0.30910 (13)0.0214 (3)
H3A0.3657320.8253280.2694560.026*
H3B0.3675020.8631330.3832190.026*
C40.58916 (14)0.86184 (8)0.17668 (13)0.0234 (3)
H4A0.6714530.8632130.1697710.028*
H4B0.5616920.8257470.1314850.028*
C50.41875 (14)0.92161 (8)0.13962 (13)0.0224 (3)
H5A0.3894890.9595930.1003740.027*
H5B0.3911120.8829100.1013030.027*
C60.58279 (14)0.97793 (8)0.19676 (14)0.0258 (4)
H6A0.5588321.0177120.1592780.031*
H6B0.6654090.9772340.1968210.031*
C70.42017 (14)0.97741 (8)0.30966 (14)0.0242 (3)
H7A0.3930200.9765800.3860590.029*
H7B0.3913261.0170340.2751110.029*
C80.39835 (19)0.7500000.62980 (18)0.0220 (5)
H8A0.3643940.7883760.5956320.026*0.5
H8B0.3643940.7116240.5956320.026*0.5
C90.58800 (15)0.68332 (9)0.69428 (13)0.0252 (4)
H9A0.5609610.6424930.6625010.030*
H9B0.6703410.6807600.6994840.030*
C100.41789 (14)0.80712 (8)0.80178 (13)0.0238 (3)
H10A0.3890110.8088430.8775280.029*
H10B0.3904370.8457220.7630550.029*
C110.5815 (2)0.7500000.8573 (2)0.0272 (5)
H11A0.5579280.7500000.9348950.033*
H11B0.6640790.7500010.8558460.033*
O10.63144 (11)0.91639 (6)0.91827 (10)0.0299 (3)
H1A0.5992610.8831750.8889330.045*
H1B0.6025300.9189790.9833410.045*
O20.36431 (11)0.91126 (6)0.57555 (11)0.0344 (3)
H2C0.2922570.9149470.5817130.052*
H2D0.3909230.9433060.6129400.052*
Atomic displacement parameters (Å2) top
U11U22U33U12U13U23
Ag10.01658 (9)0.02286 (10)0.02095 (9)0.0000.00045 (7)0.000
P10.0166 (2)0.0217 (2)0.0239 (2)0.00258 (17)0.00155 (16)0.00100 (16)
P20.0180 (3)0.0264 (3)0.0200 (3)0.0000.0037 (2)0.000
N10.0214 (11)0.0348 (12)0.0308 (11)0.0000.0006 (9)0.000
N20.0181 (7)0.0238 (7)0.0251 (7)0.0004 (6)0.0003 (6)0.0019 (6)
N30.0189 (7)0.0230 (7)0.0290 (7)0.0010 (6)0.0025 (6)0.0016 (6)
N40.0157 (7)0.0222 (7)0.0263 (7)0.0014 (6)0.0013 (5)0.0010 (5)
N50.0169 (10)0.0270 (10)0.0213 (9)0.0000.0019 (7)0.000
N60.0198 (7)0.0299 (8)0.0226 (6)0.0020 (6)0.0016 (5)0.0026 (6)
C10.0202 (12)0.0193 (11)0.0171 (9)0.0000.0007 (8)0.000
C20.0194 (8)0.0275 (9)0.0270 (8)0.0016 (7)0.0054 (7)0.0006 (7)
C30.0160 (8)0.0236 (8)0.0246 (8)0.0006 (6)0.0012 (6)0.0008 (6)
C40.0168 (8)0.0266 (9)0.0268 (8)0.0035 (7)0.0019 (6)0.0000 (7)
C50.0183 (8)0.0249 (8)0.0239 (8)0.0010 (7)0.0040 (6)0.0011 (6)
C60.0202 (8)0.0256 (9)0.0315 (9)0.0034 (7)0.0003 (7)0.0024 (7)
C70.0201 (8)0.0222 (8)0.0301 (8)0.0026 (7)0.0010 (7)0.0034 (7)
C80.0177 (11)0.0266 (12)0.0215 (10)0.0000.0004 (9)0.000
C90.0206 (8)0.0303 (9)0.0247 (8)0.0050 (7)0.0037 (7)0.0010 (7)
C100.0199 (8)0.0279 (9)0.0235 (8)0.0022 (7)0.0031 (7)0.0027 (7)
C110.0204 (12)0.0380 (14)0.0231 (11)0.0000.0034 (10)0.000
O10.0335 (7)0.0293 (7)0.0268 (6)0.0078 (6)0.0049 (5)0.0000 (5)
O20.0333 (7)0.0291 (7)0.0407 (8)0.0006 (6)0.0008 (6)0.0107 (6)
Geometric parameters (Å, º) top
Ag1—P1i2.4696 (4)N6—C111.4732 (19)
Ag1—P12.4696 (4)C2—H2A0.9900
Ag1—P22.4728 (6)C2—H2B0.9900
Ag1—C12.168 (2)C3—H3A0.9900
P1—C21.8484 (17)C3—H3B0.9900
P1—C31.8486 (16)C4—H4A0.9900
P1—C41.8486 (17)C4—H4B0.9900
P2—C81.849 (2)C5—H5A0.9900
P2—C9i1.8492 (17)C5—H5B0.9900
P2—C91.8492 (17)C6—H6A0.9900
N1—C11.142 (3)C6—H6B0.9900
N2—C41.479 (2)C7—H7A0.9900
N2—C51.479 (2)C7—H7B0.9900
N2—C61.471 (2)C8—H8A0.9900
N3—C21.476 (2)C8—H8B0.9900
N3—C61.472 (2)C9—H9A0.9900
N3—C71.477 (2)C9—H9B0.9900
N4—C31.473 (2)C10—H10A0.9900
N4—C51.468 (2)C10—H10B0.9900
N4—C71.468 (2)C11—H11A0.9900
N5—C81.478 (3)C11—H11B0.9900
N5—C101.467 (2)O1—H1A0.8700
N5—C10i1.467 (2)O1—H1B0.8700
N6—C9i1.479 (2)O2—H2C0.8700
N6—C101.478 (2)O2—H2D0.8700
P1i—Ag1—P1109.55 (2)N2—C4—P1113.00 (11)
P1i—Ag1—P2107.402 (13)N2—C4—H4A109.0
P1—Ag1—P2107.402 (13)N2—C4—H4B109.0
C1—Ag1—P1111.07 (3)H4A—C4—H4B107.8
C1—Ag1—P1i111.07 (3)N2—C5—H5A108.8
C1—Ag1—P2110.21 (6)N2—C5—H5B108.8
C2—P1—Ag1119.02 (6)N4—C5—N2113.91 (13)
C2—P1—C396.91 (8)N4—C5—H5A108.8
C2—P1—C497.53 (8)N4—C5—H5B108.8
C3—P1—Ag1121.21 (5)H5A—C5—H5B107.7
C3—P1—C497.55 (7)N2—C6—N3114.28 (14)
C4—P1—Ag1119.42 (6)N2—C6—H6A108.7
C8—P2—Ag1121.88 (8)N2—C6—H6B108.7
C8—P2—C997.38 (7)N3—C6—H6A108.7
C9—P2—Ag1118.79 (5)N3—C6—H6B108.7
C9i—P2—Ag1118.79 (5)H6A—C6—H6B107.6
C9i—P2—C897.38 (7)N3—C7—H7A108.7
C9i—P2—C997.46 (11)N3—C7—H7B108.7
C4—N2—C5110.78 (13)N4—C7—N3114.06 (13)
C6—N2—C4111.15 (13)N4—C7—H7A108.7
C6—N2—C5108.45 (13)N4—C7—H7B108.7
C2—N3—C7110.83 (13)H7A—C7—H7B107.6
C6—N3—C2111.27 (14)P2—C8—H8A109.0
C6—N3—C7108.15 (13)P2—C8—H8B109.0
C5—N4—C3111.53 (12)N5—C8—P2112.93 (15)
C7—N4—C3111.14 (13)N5—C8—H8A109.0
C7—N4—C5108.55 (13)N5—C8—H8B109.0
C10i—N5—C8111.13 (11)H8A—C8—H8B107.8
C10—N5—C8111.13 (12)P2—C9—H9A109.0
C10—N5—C10i108.47 (18)P2—C9—H9B109.0
C10—N6—C9i110.82 (13)N6i—C9—P2113.07 (12)
C11—N6—C9i111.00 (15)N6i—C9—H9A109.0
C11—N6—C10108.29 (15)N6i—C9—H9B109.0
N1—C1—Ag1179.82 (19)H9A—C9—H9B107.8
P1—C2—H2A108.9N5—C10—N6114.35 (14)
P1—C2—H2B108.9N5—C10—H10A108.7
N3—C2—P1113.18 (11)N5—C10—H10B108.7
N3—C2—H2A108.9N6—C10—H10A108.7
N3—C2—H2B108.9N6—C10—H10B108.7
H2A—C2—H2B107.8H10A—C10—H10B107.6
P1—C3—H3A109.0N6—C11—N6i114.33 (19)
P1—C3—H3B109.0N6i—C11—H11A108.7
N4—C3—P1112.93 (11)N6—C11—H11A108.7
N4—C3—H3A109.0N6—C11—H11B108.7
N4—C3—H3B109.0N6i—C11—H11B108.7
H3A—C3—H3B107.8H11A—C11—H11B107.6
P1—C4—H4A109.0H1A—O1—H1B104.5
P1—C4—H4B109.0H2C—O2—H2D104.5
Ag1—P1—C2—N3178.57 (9)C6—N2—C4—P160.19 (15)
Ag1—P1—C3—N4179.99 (8)C6—N2—C5—N455.12 (17)
Ag1—P1—C4—N2178.41 (9)C6—N3—C2—P159.84 (16)
Ag1—P2—C8—N5180.000 (1)C6—N3—C7—N455.62 (18)
Ag1—P2—C9—N6i177.87 (9)C7—N3—C2—P160.54 (16)
C2—P1—C3—N449.85 (12)C7—N3—C6—N255.30 (18)
C2—P1—C4—N248.90 (13)C7—N4—C3—P161.08 (15)
C2—N3—C6—N266.65 (17)C7—N4—C5—N255.58 (17)
C2—N3—C7—N466.60 (18)C8—P2—C9—N6i49.37 (14)
C3—P1—C2—N349.83 (13)C8—N5—C10—N667.05 (19)
C3—P1—C4—N249.15 (13)C9i—P2—C8—N549.27 (6)
C3—N4—C5—N267.19 (17)C9—P2—C8—N549.28 (6)
C3—N4—C7—N367.02 (17)C9i—P2—C9—N6i49.11 (16)
C4—P1—C2—N348.78 (13)C9i—N6—C10—N566.84 (19)
C4—P1—C3—N448.73 (12)C9i—N6—C11—N6i66.9 (2)
C4—N2—C5—N467.12 (17)C10—N5—C8—P260.44 (12)
C4—N2—C6—N366.84 (17)C10i—N5—C8—P260.44 (12)
C5—N2—C4—P160.46 (15)C10i—N5—C10—N655.4 (2)
C5—N2—C6—N355.17 (18)C10—N6—C11—N6i54.9 (2)
C5—N4—C3—P160.20 (15)C11—N6—C10—N555.13 (18)
C5—N4—C7—N355.98 (17)
Symmetry code: (i) x, y+3/2, z.
Hydrogen-bond geometry (Å, º) top
D—H···AD—HH···AD···AD—H···A
O1—H1A···N60.871.972.8379 (19)172
O1—H1B···N2ii0.871.982.8518 (18)178
O2—H2C···O1iii0.871.932.7931 (19)174
O2—H2D···N3iv0.872.012.8796 (19)176
Symmetry codes: (ii) x, y, z+1; (iii) x1/2, y, z+3/2; (iv) x+1, y+2, z+1.
 

Acknowledgements

We thank the University of KwaZulu-Natal for their support of this research.

References

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