A one-dimensional silver(I) coordination polymer based on an asymmetric flexible N-donor carboxylate ligand: catena-poly[(μ3-4-{[(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoato-κ(3)O:O':N(4))silver(I)].

The title compound, [Ag(C15H11N4O2S)]n, was synthesized by the reaction of 4-{[(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoic acid (Hptmba) with silver nitrate and triethylamine at room temperature. The asymmetric unit contains one crystallographically independent Ag(I) cation and one ptmba(-) ligand. Each Ag(I) cation is tricoordinated by two carboxylate O atoms and one tetrazole N atom from three different ptmba(-) ligands, displaying a distorted T-shaped geometry. Three Ag(I) cations are linked by tris-monodentate bridging ptmba(-) ligands to form a one-dimensional double chain along the c axis, which is further consolidated by an intrachain π-π contact with an offset face-to-face distance of 4.176 (3) Å between the centroids of two adjacent aromatic rings in neighbouring benzoate groups. The one-dimensional chains are linked into a three-dimensional supramolecular framework by additional π-π interchain interactions, viz. of 3.753 (3) Å between two phenyl substituents of the tetrazole rings and of 4.326 (2) Å between a benzoate ring and a tetrazole ring. Thermogravimetric analysis and the fluorescence spectrum of the title compound reveal its good thermal stability and a strong green luminescence at room temperature.