Poly[[{μ(3)-2-[4-(2-hy­droxy­eth­yl)piperazin-1-yl]ethane­sulfonato}­silver(I)] trihydrate]

Ethane­sulfonic acid-based buffers like 2-[4-(2-hy­droxy­eth­yl)­piperazin-1-yl]ethane­sulfonic acid (HEPES) are commonly used in biological experiments because of their ability to act as non-coordinating ligands towards metal ions. However, recent work has shown that some of these buffers may in fact coordinate metal ions. The title complex, {[Ag(C(8)H(17)N(2)O(4)S)]·3H(2)O}(n), is a metal–organic framework formed from HEPES and a silver(I) ion. In this polymeric complex, each Ag atom is primarily coordinated by two N atoms in a distorted linear geometry. Weaker secondary bonding inter­actions from the hy­droxy and sulfate O atoms of HEPES complete a distorted seesaw geometry. The crystal structure is stabilized by O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding interactions.