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

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Tris(3,5-di­aza-1-azonia-7-phosphaadamant-7-yl)(1,3,5-tri­aza-7-phospha-adamantane)silver(I) dicarbonate

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aSchool of Agriculture and Science, Discipline of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa
*Correspondence e-mail: [email protected]

Edited by W. T. A. Harrison, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (Received 29 July 2026; accepted 3 August 2026; online 14 August 2026)

The title compound, [Ag(C6H13N3P)4(C6H12N3P)](CO3)2 or [Ag(PTAH)3(PTA)](CO3)2, is a discrete cationic silver(I) complex composed of one neutral 1,3,5-tri­aza-7-phosphaadamantane (C6H12N3P; PTA) ligand and three monoprotonated PTAH+ (C6H13N3P+) ligands coordinated to the silver center, resulting in an overall +4 charge balanced by two carbonate anions. The compound crystallizes in the rhombohedral R3 space group with the silver ion and PTA P atom lying on a crystallographic threefold axis, as does one of the carbonate C atoms. The silver ion adopts a tetra­hedral geometry with P—Ag—P bond angles near the ideal 109°, and silver–phospho­rus bond distances of 2.4699 (6) and 2.4683 (11) Å for Ag—PPTA and Ag—PPTAH, respectively. The crystal packing features N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the protonated N atoms of the PTAH ligands and the non-coordinating carbonate anions.

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

Structure description

The phosphine ligand 1,3,5-tri­aza-7-phosphaadamantane (C6H12N3P; PTA) has garnered growing inter­est because of its water solubility and distinctive coordination properties arising from a soft phospho­rus donor and three nitro­gen atoms (Krogstad et al., 2007View full citation). While PTA mainly binds to metals via the phospho­rus atom, its nitro­gen atoms can enable diverse coordination modes, impacting complex stability and functionality (Darensbourg et al., 1997View full citation). Silver(I) complexes with PTA display enhanced solubility and stability useful in catalysis and biomedical fields (Jimenez et al., 2017View full citation; Armstrong et al., 2018View full citation).

As part of our studies in this area, this work reports the synthesis and crystal structure of the title salt [Ag(PTAH)3(PTA)](CO3)2 (I), illustrating the coordination of silver(I) with both neutral PTA and protonated PTAH ligands in the presence of carbonate counter-ions.

The asymmetric unit of (I) consists of an Ag ion (site symmetry 3), a complete PTAH ligand, a fragment of PTA (P site symmetry 3), a complete carbonate anion and a fragment of a carbonate ion (C site symmetry 3), as shown in Fig. 1[link]. The complete cation is constructed through symmetry code 1 − y, x − y, z, which results in the silver atom coordinated with one neutral PTA and three monoprotonated PTA ligands, forming a cationic complex with a +4 charge balanced by two carbonate anions. The Ag center again exhibits tetra­hedral geometry, with bond angles averaging close to the ideal tetra­hedral angle of 109°. The Ag—P1 and Ag—P2 bond distances are 2.4699 (6) and 2.4683 (11) Å, respectively. The P—Ag—P bond angles are comparable to those of other tetra-coordinated metal phosphine complexes such as [Cu(PTA)4][BF4]·6H2O and [Cu(PTAH)4][NO3]5 with an average P—Cu—P bond angle of 109.5° (Kirillov et al., 2007View full citation, Porchia et al., 2009View full citation). In the extended structure of (I), the carbonate ions accept strong N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds arising from the protonated nitro­gen atoms of the HPTA ligands (Fig. 2[link]). These hydrogen bonds are characterized by an N⋯O distance of 2.731 (3) Å and an N—H⋯O angle of 176°, indicating strong and directional inter­molecular inter­actions (Table 1[link]).

Table 1
Hydrogen-bond geometry (Å, °)

D—H⋯A D—H H⋯A DA D—H⋯A
N2—H2⋯O6i 1.00 1.73 2.731 (3) 176
Symmetry code: (i) Mathematical equation.
[Figure 1]
Figure 1
The mol­ecular structure of (I) shown with displacement ellipsoids at the 50% probability level. All C-bound hydrogen atoms are omitted for clarity. Symmetry codes: (i) 1 − y, x − y, z; (ii) 1 + y − x, 1 − x, z.
[Figure 2]
Figure 2
Representation of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure of (I) (blue and red dotted bonds).

Synthesis and crystallization

Formic acid (0.3 ml, 8.0 mmol) was added slowly to silver(I) oxide (0.93 g, 4.0 mmol) in water (10 ml), generating silver(I) formate, which was filtered to remove unreacted material. PTA (1.26 g, 8.0 mmol) dissolved in acetone (20 ml) was added dropwise to the filtrate, yielding a cloudy solution. Slow evaporation of the filtered solution afforded X-ray quality crystals of (I) suitable for analysis. The carbonate ions in the product may have arisen from CO2 absorbed from the atmos­phere in the presence of silver ions (Barnes et al., 1971View full citation; Kong et al., 2005View full citation).

Refinement

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

Table 2
Experimental details

Crystal data
Chemical formula [Ag(C6H13N3P)4(C6H12N3P)](CO3)2
Mr 859.52
Crystal system, space group Trigonal, R3
Temperature (K) 173
a, c (Å) 15.7992 (12), 13.1502 (18)
V3) 2842.7 (6)
Z 3
Radiation type Mo Kα
μ (mm−1) 0.78
Crystal size (mm) 0.36 × 0.24 × 0.22
 
Data collection
Diffractometer Bruker APEXII CCD
Absorption correction Multi-scan (SADABS; Krause et al., 2015View full citation)
Tmin, Tmax 0.767, 0.847
No. of measured, independent and observed [I > 2σ(I)] reflections 18709, 3005, 2981
Rint 0.022
(sin θ/λ)max−1) 0.668
 
Refinement
R[F2 > 2σ(F2)], wR(F2), S 0.019, 0.048, 1.08
No. of reflections 3005
No. of parameters 172
No. of restraints 13
H-atom treatment H-atom parameters constrained
Δρmax, Δρmin (e Å−3) 0.77, −0.32
Absolute structure Flack x determined using 1393 quotients [(I+)−(I)]/[(I+)+(I)] (Parsons et al., 2013View full citation)
Absolute structure parameter −0.013 (5)
Computer programs: APEX2 and SAINT (Bruker, 2014View full citation), SHELXS97 (Sheldrick, 2008View full citation), SHELXL2018/3 (Sheldrick, 2015View full citation) and OLEX2 (Dolomanov et al., 2009View full citation).

Structural data


Computing details top

(I) top
Crystal data top
[Ag(C6H13N3P)4(C6H12N3P)](CO3)2Dx = 1.506 Mg m3
Mr = 859.52Mo Kα radiation, λ = 0.71073 Å
Trigonal, R3Cell parameters from 9969 reflections
a = 15.7992 (12) Åθ = 2.6–28.3°
c = 13.1502 (18) ŵ = 0.78 mm1
V = 2842.7 (6) Å3T = 173 K
Z = 3Block, colourless
F(000) = 15180.36 × 0.24 × 0.22 mm
Data collection top
Bruker APEXII CCD
diffractometer
2981 reflections with I > 2σ(I)
Graphite monochromatorRint = 0.022
φ and ω scansθmax = 28.3°, θmin = 2.2°
Absorption correction: multi-scan
(SADABS; Krause et al., 2015)
h = 2117
Tmin = 0.767, Tmax = 0.847k = 1521
18709 measured reflectionsl = 1717
3005 independent reflections
Refinement top
Refinement on F2Hydrogen site location: inferred from neighbouring sites
Least-squares matrix: fullH-atom parameters constrained
R[F2 > 2σ(F2)] = 0.019 w = 1/[σ2(Fo2) + (0.031P)2 + 1.7576P]
where P = (Fo2 + 2Fc2)/3
wR(F2) = 0.048(Δ/σ)max = 0.001
S = 1.08Δρmax = 0.77 e Å3
3005 reflectionsΔρmin = 0.32 e Å3
172 parametersAbsolute structure: Flack x determined using 1393 quotients [(I+)-(I-)]/[(I+)+(I-)] (Parsons et al., 2013)
13 restraintsAbsolute structure parameter: 0.013 (5)
Primary atom site location: dual
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*/Ueq
C70.54971 (19)0.2863 (2)0.48563 (19)0.0157 (5)
H7A0.5184270.3247770.4659910.019*
H7B0.5051810.2175030.4658550.019*
C80.5965 (2)0.6287 (2)0.1338 (2)0.0154 (5)
H8A0.6571440.6688320.1732230.018*
H8B0.5730990.6725930.1089860.018*
C90.6073 (2)0.2336 (2)0.6302 (2)0.0157 (5)
H9A0.6055580.2306300.7054240.019*
H9B0.5670060.1660640.6044290.019*
N60.56354 (17)0.29178 (17)0.59648 (17)0.0146 (4)
C10.55921 (19)0.4978 (2)0.25461 (19)0.0134 (5)
H1A0.5080410.4505200.3010410.016*
H1B0.6165700.5424480.2962700.016*
C20.48116 (19)0.37213 (18)0.08897 (18)0.0128 (5)
H2A0.4906400.3403030.0286330.015*
H2B0.4276270.3209590.1302690.015*
C30.66953 (18)0.53329 (18)0.07806 (18)0.0114 (5)
H3A0.7313420.5796200.1125300.014*
H3B0.6862220.5077700.0171460.014*
C40.53229 (19)0.5242 (2)0.01127 (19)0.0136 (5)
H4A0.5485190.4927840.0672330.016*
H4B0.5073000.5646610.0418890.016*
C50.4345 (2)0.4943 (2)0.14521 (19)0.0149 (5)
H5A0.4069480.5347670.1204570.018*
H5B0.3856350.4434600.1907740.018*
N10.52210 (16)0.55474 (17)0.20140 (16)0.0134 (4)
N20.45315 (15)0.44554 (16)0.05507 (16)0.0120 (4)
H20.3917040.4107980.0141820.014*
N30.61909 (16)0.58570 (16)0.04598 (16)0.0124 (4)
P10.59476 (5)0.43083 (5)0.16489 (5)0.01082 (13)
P20.6666670.3333330.41562 (8)0.0119 (2)
Ag10.6666670.3333330.22792 (2)0.00986 (8)
C60.34261 (19)0.22240 (19)0.32803 (19)0.0118 (5)
O30.3890 (2)0.1866 (2)0.28981 (18)0.0361 (6)
O60.32156 (19)0.27601 (18)0.27414 (18)0.0295 (5)
O70.31591 (19)0.2064 (2)0.41785 (18)0.0316 (5)
C100.6666670.3333330.8982 (3)0.0112 (7)
O20.60792 (17)0.36433 (18)0.89697 (18)0.0279 (5)
Atomic displacement parameters (Å2) top
U11U22U33U12U13U23
C70.0127 (12)0.0189 (13)0.0139 (11)0.0068 (11)0.0001 (9)0.0023 (10)
C80.0170 (13)0.0140 (12)0.0176 (12)0.0096 (11)0.0013 (10)0.0017 (10)
C90.0171 (13)0.0143 (12)0.0137 (11)0.0064 (10)0.0015 (9)0.0028 (9)
N60.0129 (11)0.0176 (12)0.0127 (10)0.0071 (9)0.0005 (8)0.0002 (9)
C10.0140 (12)0.0174 (13)0.0110 (10)0.0096 (10)0.0006 (9)0.0007 (9)
C20.0131 (12)0.0124 (12)0.0136 (11)0.0068 (10)0.0005 (9)0.0007 (9)
C30.0092 (11)0.0126 (11)0.0136 (10)0.0063 (10)0.0004 (9)0.0023 (9)
C40.0151 (12)0.0156 (12)0.0113 (10)0.0086 (10)0.0003 (9)0.0011 (10)
C50.0145 (12)0.0190 (13)0.0144 (11)0.0108 (11)0.0003 (9)0.0046 (9)
N10.0132 (10)0.0153 (11)0.0147 (10)0.0094 (9)0.0015 (8)0.0021 (8)
N20.0111 (10)0.0153 (11)0.0112 (9)0.0078 (9)0.0020 (8)0.0031 (8)
N30.0152 (10)0.0109 (10)0.0132 (9)0.0081 (9)0.0004 (8)0.0013 (8)
P10.0116 (3)0.0115 (3)0.0113 (3)0.0072 (3)0.0004 (2)0.0008 (2)
P20.0129 (3)0.0129 (3)0.0098 (4)0.00647 (16)0.0000.000
Ag10.00977 (10)0.00977 (10)0.01003 (12)0.00489 (5)0.0000.000
C60.0129 (11)0.0140 (11)0.0131 (10)0.0102 (9)0.0013 (8)0.0025 (8)
O30.0494 (14)0.0499 (14)0.0311 (11)0.0413 (12)0.0055 (10)0.0026 (10)
O60.0389 (14)0.0341 (13)0.0288 (12)0.0283 (12)0.0167 (10)0.0141 (10)
O70.0349 (13)0.0448 (15)0.0234 (11)0.0260 (12)0.0044 (10)0.0044 (10)
C100.0140 (11)0.0140 (11)0.0055 (15)0.0070 (5)0.0000.000
O20.0252 (11)0.0325 (12)0.0327 (12)0.0194 (10)0.0028 (9)0.0079 (9)
Geometric parameters (Å, º) top
C7—H7A0.9900C3—H3B0.9900
C7—H7B0.9900C3—N31.469 (3)
C7—N61.470 (3)C3—P11.846 (3)
C7—P21.855 (3)C4—H4A0.9900
C8—H8A0.9900C4—H4B0.9900
C8—H8B0.9900C4—N21.521 (3)
C8—N11.471 (3)C4—N31.435 (3)
C8—N31.472 (3)C5—H5A0.9900
C9—H9A0.9900C5—H5B0.9900
C9—H9B0.9900C5—N11.433 (3)
C9—N6i1.463 (4)C5—N21.521 (3)
C9—N61.468 (4)N2—H21.0000
C1—H1A0.9900P1—Ag12.4699 (6)
C1—H1B0.9900P2—Ag12.4683 (11)
C1—N11.473 (3)C6—O31.235 (3)
C1—P11.849 (3)C6—O61.269 (3)
C2—H2A0.9900C6—O71.237 (3)
C2—H2B0.9900C10—O2ii1.247 (2)
C2—N21.501 (3)C10—O21.247 (2)
C2—P11.848 (3)C10—O2i1.247 (2)
C3—H3A0.9900
H7A—C7—H7B107.9N3—C4—N2111.7 (2)
N6—C7—H7A109.1H5A—C5—H5B107.9
N6—C7—H7B109.1N1—C5—H5A109.3
N6—C7—P2112.30 (18)N1—C5—H5B109.3
P2—C7—H7A109.1N1—C5—N2111.8 (2)
P2—C7—H7B109.1N2—C5—H5A109.3
H8A—C8—H8B107.8N2—C5—H5B109.3
N1—C8—H8A109.0C8—N1—C1111.6 (2)
N1—C8—H8B109.0C5—N1—C8109.9 (2)
N1—C8—N3112.9 (2)C5—N1—C1112.7 (2)
N3—C8—H8A109.0C2—N2—C4111.21 (19)
N3—C8—H8B109.0C2—N2—C5111.54 (19)
H9A—C9—H9B107.6C2—N2—H2108.4
N6—C9—H9A108.7C4—N2—C5108.8 (2)
N6i—C9—H9A108.7C4—N2—H2108.4
N6i—C9—H9B108.7C5—N2—H2108.4
N6—C9—H9B108.7C3—N3—C8111.1 (2)
N6i—C9—N6114.1 (2)C4—N3—C8110.8 (2)
C9ii—N6—C7111.4 (2)C4—N3—C3111.9 (2)
C9—N6—C7111.4 (2)C1—P1—Ag1120.57 (8)
C9ii—N6—C9108.4 (2)C2—P1—C197.77 (12)
H1A—C1—H1B107.9C2—P1—Ag1120.17 (8)
N1—C1—H1A109.2C3—P1—C197.89 (12)
N1—C1—H1B109.2C3—P1—C298.11 (11)
N1—C1—P1111.95 (16)C3—P1—Ag1117.54 (8)
P1—C1—H1A109.2C7i—P2—C797.50 (11)
P1—C1—H1B109.2C7i—P2—C7ii97.50 (11)
H2A—C2—H2B108.0C7ii—P2—C797.50 (11)
N2—C2—H2A109.4C7ii—P2—Ag1119.75 (8)
N2—C2—H2B109.4C7i—P2—Ag1119.75 (8)
N2—C2—P1111.12 (17)C7—P2—Ag1119.75 (8)
P1—C2—H2A109.4P1i—Ag1—P1109.333 (15)
P1—C2—H2B109.4P1ii—Ag1—P1109.332 (15)
H3A—C3—H3B107.8P1ii—Ag1—P1i109.337 (15)
N3—C3—H3A109.1P2—Ag1—P1ii109.608 (15)
N3—C3—H3B109.1P2—Ag1—P1109.608 (15)
N3—C3—P1112.47 (17)P2—Ag1—P1i109.608 (15)
P1—C3—H3A109.1O3—C6—O6119.5 (2)
P1—C3—H3B109.1O3—C6—O7121.0 (3)
H4A—C4—H4B107.9O7—C6—O6119.5 (2)
N2—C4—H4A109.3O2i—C10—O2119.982 (11)
N2—C4—H4B109.3O2i—C10—O2ii119.983 (11)
N3—C4—H4A109.3O2ii—C10—O2119.984 (11)
N3—C4—H4B109.3
N6—C7—P2—C7i49.24 (17)N2—C5—N1—C857.1 (3)
N6—C7—P2—C7ii49.39 (16)N2—C5—N1—C168.1 (3)
N6—C7—P2—Ag1179.93 (15)N3—C8—N1—C168.4 (3)
N6i—C9—N6—C767.4 (3)N3—C8—N1—C557.3 (3)
N6i—C9—N6—C9ii55.5 (3)N3—C3—P1—C149.28 (19)
N1—C8—N3—C368.3 (3)N3—C3—P1—C249.79 (19)
N1—C8—N3—C456.7 (3)N3—C3—P1—Ag1179.92 (14)
N1—C1—P1—C250.6 (2)N3—C4—N2—C268.5 (3)
N1—C1—P1—C348.8 (2)N3—C4—N2—C554.7 (3)
N1—C1—P1—Ag1177.40 (14)P1—C1—N1—C860.9 (2)
N1—C5—N2—C267.2 (3)P1—C1—N1—C563.3 (2)
N1—C5—N2—C455.8 (3)P1—C2—N2—C460.7 (2)
N2—C2—P1—C150.14 (19)P1—C2—N2—C560.9 (2)
N2—C2—P1—C349.03 (18)P1—C3—N3—C861.3 (2)
N2—C2—P1—Ag1177.56 (12)P1—C3—N3—C463.1 (2)
N2—C4—N3—C855.4 (3)P2—C7—N6—C9ii60.8 (3)
N2—C4—N3—C369.2 (3)P2—C7—N6—C960.4 (3)
Symmetry codes: (i) y+1, xy, z; (ii) x+y+1, x+1, z.
Hydrogen-bond geometry (Å, º) top
D—H···AD—HH···AD···AD—H···A
N2—H2···O6iii1.001.732.731 (3)176
Symmetry code: (iii) x+y+1/3, x+2/3, z1/3.
 

Acknowledgements

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

References

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