One-pot synthesis of anhydrous silver carboxylates from silver(i) fluoride

A new one-pot, water-free method for the synthesis of silver carboxylates is described. The preparation employs the direct reaction of AgF with the carboxylic acid in a non-aqueous solvent and isolated yields are above 70% for straight-chain and simple aromatic carboxylates and slightly lower for perfluorinated carboxylates. Disilver salts of dicarboxylic acids can also be prepared this way, but attempts to extend the reaction to other transition metals were successful only with copper.