Synthesis and crystal structures of Ag and Hg complexes of bis(N-heterocyclic carbenes) on p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene platform

A series of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene 1,3-diimidazolium salts were successfully prepared by the alkylation of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with dibromoalkanes, and sequential substitution reaction with 1-alkylimidazole. Furthermore, coordination reactions of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene 1,3-diimidazolium salts with silver oxide and mercury acetate gave novel Ag and Hg complexes of bis(N-heterocyclic carbenes) on p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene platform. The single-crystal structures of four p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene 1,3-diimidazolium salts and three metal complexes were successfully determined by X-ray diffraction. An Ag-Ag argentophilic interaction (Ag-Ag bond length is 3.1599(6)angstrom) is formed between the two Ag-NHC complexes and a dimetallic coordination mode exists in Hg-NHC complexes.