Abstract
A novel 1,3,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazolium salt was found to function as an effective precursor for the synthesis of the first structurally characterized cationic silver(I) and ruthenium(II)carbene complexes of overall 1:2 ligand-to-metal stoichiometry. The Ag(I) complex crystallized in the form of an eight silver atom-containing cluster, whereas the Ru(II) complex proved to be a discrete species and was found to be capable of initiating the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene upon activation with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane.