On the Nature of Crystals Precipitating from Aqueous Silver Ethylenediamine Oxalate Complex Solutions

Aqueous silver ethylene diamine oxalate complex solution is a critical precursor in the production of supported silver catalysts. Crystals precipitating from such complex solutions are characterized by single‐crystal structure analysis as [Ag(μ‐en)]2(C2O4)×2H2O. Silver atoms are bridged by ethylenediamine molecules in a molar ratio of 1 : 1 forming slightly distorted one‐dimensional polymeric Ag(μ‐en)‐chains along the c axis. Oxygen atoms of oxalate groups show no direct coordination to silver atoms. Oxygen atoms of lattice water molecules show a weak lateral coordination to silver atoms within slightly bent N−Ag−N fragments.