Bis(aryl)acenaphthenequinonediimine Substituent Effect on the Properties and Coordination Environment of Ligands and Their Bis‐Chelate AgI Complexes

The reaction of a series of Ar-BIAN ligands (Ar = o-Ph, m-Cl, m-CF3, p-Cl, p-MeO, and p-Me-C6H4) with AgNO3 results in the formation of the corresponding bis-chelate complexes. Substituent groups on the aryl rings seem to offer tunability of the electronic properties of the diimines, also affecting the metal coordination environment through the mono-coordination or chelation of the nitrate anion as promoted by the substituents p-MeO, p-Me, and m-CF3. The enhanced absorption capacity of the complexes in the visible region in combination with the well-known redox activity of the ligands and their ability to potentially accommodate a fifth coordinated ligand on the metal center opens a route for the preparation of new silver species of high propensity for catalytic, photocatalytic, and biological applications.