Silver: Organometallic Chemistry

Abstract

The organometallic chemistry of silver and copper are in many ways similar. Simple alkyls are not thermally stable but fluorination of the hydrocarbon imparts considerable stability to the silver(I) products. Except for the special anion, [Ag(CF 3 ) 4 ] − , and derivatives such as Ag(CF 3 ) 3 L, L = phosphine, which are stable, the fluorocarbon products generally are light and air sensitive, but less so than the nonfluorinated alkyls. Organometallic stability is increased when the silver is bonded to alkenes, alkynes, and other unsaturated species. Alkynylsilver compounds are generally polymeric solids. Alkenes π‐bond to the silver in Ag(I) salts. This feature has led to the well‐established use of silver catalysts for olefin epoxidation.