Novel silver-telluride clusters stabilised with bidentate phosphine ligands: Synthesis and structure of {[Ag-5(TePh)(6)(Ph2P(CH2)(2)PPh3)](Ph2P(CH2)(2)PPh2)}(infinity,) and [Ag38Te13(TetBu)(12)(Ph2P(CH (2))(2)PPh2)3]

Bidentate phosphine ligands have been found effective to stabilise polynucl ear cores containing silver and chalcogenide ligands. They can act as intra and intermolecular bridges between the silver centres. The clusters {[Ag-5 (TePh)(6)(Ph2P(CH2)(2)PPh3)](Ph2P(CH2)(2)PPh2)}(infinity) (1). [Ag18Te(TePh )(15)(Ph2P(CH2)(3)PPh2)(2)Cl] (2), and [Ag38Te13-(TetBu)(12)(Ph2P(CH2)(2)PP h2)(3)] (3) have been prepared and their molecular structure determined. Co mpound 2 and 3 are molecular structures with separated cluster cores while 1 forms a polymeric chain bridged by phosphine ligands. (1: space group P2(1)/c (No. 14), Z = 4, a = 3518,1(7) pm, b = 2260.6(5) pm . c = 3522,1(7) pm, beta = 119,19(3)degrees; 2: space group R (3) over bar (No. 148). Z = 6, a = b = 3059,4(4)pm, c = 5278.8(9)pm; 3: space group Peen (No. 56), Z = 4, a = 3613,0(9) pm, b = 3608,6(7) pm, c = 2153.5(8) pm).