Silver(I) halides react with bidentate phosphorus ylides of the type Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2@C(H)C(O)C6H4R (n = 1, 2) (R = 4-Cl (Y1, Y5), 4-Br (Y2, Y6), 4-NO2 (Y3, Y7), 4-OMe (Y4, Y8)) in CH3CN as a solvent in equimolar ratios to give complexes of the formulae [(Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2C(H)C(O)C6H4R)AgX]2 (X = Cl (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22), Br (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23) and I (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24)). X-ray analysis demonstrate a binuclear chloro-bridged structure (Y–Ag(l-Cl)2Ag–Y) in which the ligand coordinates to the silver center through the P atom in complexes 1 and 10. However, both the theoretical and experimental data indicate that the ylidic carbon also has a weak interaction with the Ag ion. Characterization of the obtained compounds was performed by elemental analysis, IR, 1H, 31P and 13C NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the DMSO dissolved ligands and their complexes were screened in vitro for their antibacterial activity against 6 Gram positive and negative bacteria. All the synthesized compounds exhibited significant activity, especially against Gram negative bacteria.
