Preparation and crystal structure of silver(I) anthranilate

Silver(I) anthranilate, [Ag-2(C7H6NO2)(2)](n), was isolated as the major constituent in the attempted preparation of the adduct of anthranilic acid (2-aminobenzoic acid) with silver(I) p-toluenesulfonate and its structure has been determined by using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystals of the complex are monoclinic, space group P 2(1)/n, with two dimers in a cell of dimensions a 5.3516(8), b 4.9746(2), c 25.386(5) Angstrom, beta 91.547(8)degrees. The complex repeating unit comprises a distorted centrosymmetric biscarboxylato(-O,O')-bridged dimer [Ag-O, 2.223, 2.409(4) Angstrom; Ag-Ag, 2.128(9) Angstrom] but has, in addition, a third bond to an adjacent amine nitrogen [Ag-N, 2.301(5) Angstrom], which extends the structure into a zigzag chain polymer. The stereochemistry about each Ag centre is distorted trigonal planar [angle range, 89.9-142.9(2)degrees]. Relatively short inter-dimer Ag-Ag separations [2.989(1) Angstrom] are also present