Bis[(4-methylphenyl)diphenylphosphine-κP](nitrito-κ2 O,O′)silver(I)

The title silver(I) diphenyl-p-tolylphosphine complex crystallizes with one complete molecule in the asymmetric unit that features a bidentate nitrito, as well as two diphenyl-p-tolylphosphine ligands coordinated to a AgI center.

The title Ag I complex, [Ag(NO 2 )(C 19 H 17 P) 2 ], reveals a distorted pseudotrigonal-planar shape around the Ag I atom geometry resulting from the coordination of two phosphine ligands, as well as a nitrito-O,O 0 ligand coordinating to the silver(I) atom through the oxygen atoms; in this description, the two oxygen atoms are assumed to occupy one position, forming an acute O-Ag-O angle of 51.44 (9) . The plane resulting from the NO 2 coordination to Ag is nearly perpendicular to the plane from the coordination of the phosphine-P atoms to Ag [dihedral angle = 86.43 (9) ].

Synthesis and crystallization
Diphenyl-p-tolylphosphine (1 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile (10 ml). Silver nitrite (1 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile (5 ml). The diphenyl-p-tolylphosphine solution (10 ml) was added to the silver nitrite solution (5 ml), to give a 2:1 molar ratio reaction. The mixture was heated under reflux for 2 h after which the solution was left to crystallize.

Refinement
For full experimental details including crystal data, data collection and structure refinement details, refer to Table 1.

Figure 2
Packing diagrams as viewed along the (a) a and (b) c axes. Hydrogen atoms are omitted for clarity.

Figure 1
Perspective view of the molecular structure of the title compound showing displacement ellipsoids at the 50% probability level. Hydrogen atoms are omitted for clarity.
Special details 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. All H atoms were placed in geometrically idealized positions and constrained to ride on their parent atoms.