Phenylsilver is an organosilver compound with the chemical formula . It is a white solid. The structure is a one-dimensional coordination polymer of silver(I) tetrads.
Phenylsilver can be produced by treating silver nitrate with trialkylphenyltin (or trialkylphenyllead at âÂÂ10 ðC). In the presence of excess silver nitrate, the reaction produces the bright yellow complex . Phenylsilver can also be produced by treating silver nitrate with diphenylzinc in a 1:2 molar ratio and 0 ðC. If the molar ratio is 1:1, it will produce orange . Earlier syntheses using phenyl magnesium bromide will produce phenylsilver that contains silver or magnesium salt impurities, which destabilize it.
When heating phenylsilver at a speed of 5 ðC/min, it decomposes at 67 ðC. If the heating speed is 10 ðC/min, it will explode at 47 ðC.