A new dimension in cyclic coinage metal pyrazolates: decoration with a second ring of coinage metals supported by inter-ring metallophilic interactions.

When pyrazolate ligands with thioether chelate arms are used in cyclic coinage metal pyrazolates [Au(µ-pz)](n), the inner gold ring can be framed with an outer silver ring to give novel heterometallic double-crowned complexes [AuAg(µ-L(x))(BF(4))](4). They feature short intramolecular in-plane Ag-Au interactions, are stable as octanuclear species in solution, and show promising luminescence properties.