The crystal structure of the simple 1:1 complex of Ag(I) with hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate orate (Tp(Me,Me)) has been shown to be an asymmetric dimer, in which each Tp(Me,Me) ligand bridges both metals by coordinating two pyrazolyl donors to one Ag(I) centre and one to the other, such that to a first approximation one Ag(I) is four coordinate and the other is two coordinate. However two of the pyrazolyl donors around the 'four-coordinate' metal centres are also involved in weak, asymmetric bridging interactions with the l'two coordinate' metal centres. This is in contrast to the structure of the Cu(I) analogue [Cu-2(Tp(Me,Me))(2)] in which both Cu(I) ions are three coordinate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.