Facile Route to Silver Triarene Borate Salts, [Ag(arene)₃][B(C₆F₅)₄]: Thermodynamics, Structure, and Bonding

A facile synthesis and full characterization of a series of [Ag­(arene)₃]­[B­(C₆F₅)₄] salts (arene = C₆H₆, MeC₆H₅, EtC₆H₅, i-PrC₆H₅, n-PrC₆H_5, 1,2-Me₂C₆H₄, 1,3-Me₂C₆H₄, 1,4-Me₂C₆H₄, 1,2,3-Me₃C₆H₃, 1,2,4-Me₃C₆H₃, 1,2,5-Me₃C₆H₃, 1,2,3,5-Me₄C₆H₂, 1,2,4,5-Me₄C₆H₂, Me₅C₆H, Me₆C₆) are presented. With AgC₆F₅ and B­(C₆F₅)₃ and the arene as solvent as starting materials, highly pure, crystalline [Ag­(arene)₃]­[B­(C₆F₅)₄] salts are obtained in good yields. The thermodynamics, structure, and bonding of these [Ag­(arene)₃]⁺ salts, which are dependent on the bulkiness and substitution pattern at the arene, are discussed on the basis of X-ray and theoretical studies.