Three novel interpenetrating diamondoid networks from self-assembly of 1,12-dodecanedinitrile with silver(I) salts

The self-assembly of 1,12-dodecanedinitrile (ddn) with various silver salts (NO3-, PF6-, AsF6-, ClO4-) afforded new polymeric coordination networks with the general formula [Ag(ddn)(2)]X. All these species contain interpenetrating diamondoid nets showing interesting features: with X = NO3 the cationic [Ag(ddn)(2)](+) network exhibits the highest interpenetration (tenfold) ever found within diamondoid nets exclusively based on coordinative bonds. When X=PF6- or AsF6- an eightfold diamondoid network is obtained that shows an unusual [4+4] mode of inter-penetration, instead of the "normal" set of eight nets equally translated along a principal axis of the adamantanoid cages. The polymeric species that forms with X = ClO4- is a fourfold interpenetrating diamondoid network; the lower degree of interpenetration in this case is related to the conformation assumed by the flexible ddn ligands.