Molecular design, crystal structure, antimicrobial activity and reactivity of light-stable and water-soluble Ag-O bonding silver(I) complexes, dinuclear silver(I) N-acetylglycinate

The reaction in water of silver oxide with N-acetylglycine (H₂acgly) possessing the partial structure, i.e. the OC-N-C-COOH moiety, afforded light-stable and water-soluble dinuclear silver(I) complex _∞{Ag(Hacgly)]₂} (complex 1). X-ray crystallography revealed that complex 1 in the solid state formed a ladder polymeric structure based on bis(carboxylato-O,O′)-bridged centrosymmetric Ag₂O₄ core, which was different from the two previously reported structures of silver(I) glycinate. Complex 1 which only comprises labile Ag-O bonding showed a wide range of antimicrobial activities against selected bacteria, yeasts and molds. Complex 1 can also work as an useful silver(I) precursor for novel silver(I) cluster synthesis.