Intramolecular ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions in oxo-carboxylate bridged digadolinium(III) complexes.

Two new digadolinium(III) complexes with monocarboxylate ligands, [Gd2(pac)6(H2O)4] (1) and [Gd2(tpac)6(H2O)4] (2) (Hpac = pentanoic acid and Htpac = 3-thiopheneacetic acid), have been prepared and their structures determined by X-ray diffraction on single crystals. Their structures consist of neutral and isolated digadolinium(III) units, containing six monocarboxylate ligands and four coordinated water molecules, the bridging skeleton being built by a muO(1):kappa2O(1)O(2) framework. This structural pattern has already been observed in the parent acetate-containing compound [Gd2(ac)6(H2O)4] x 4 H2O (3) whose structure and magnetic properties were reported elsewhere (L. Cañadillas-Delgado, O. Fabelo, J. Cano, J. Pasán, F. S. Delgado, M. Julve, F. Lloret and C. Ruiz-Pérez, CrystEngComm, 2009, 11, 2131). Each gadolinium(III) ion in 1 and 2 is nine-coordinated with seven carboxylate-oxygen atoms from four pac (1)/tpac (2) ligands and two water molecules (1 and 2) building a distorted monocapped square antiprism. The values of the intramolecular gadolinium-gadolinium separation are 4.1215(5) (1), 4.1255(6) (2) and 4.1589(3) A (3) and those of the angle at the oxo-carboxylate bridge (theta) are 113.16(13) (1), 112.5(2) (2) and 115.47(7) degrees (3). Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature range 1.9-300 K reveal the occurrence of a weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction [J = -0.032(1) (1) and -0.012(1) cm(-1) (2), the Hamiltonian being defined as H = -JS(A) x S(B)] in contrast with the intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling which occurs in 3 (J = +0.031(1) cm(-1)). The magneto-structural data of 1-3 show the relevance of the geometrical parameters at the muO(1):kappa2O(1)O(2) bridge on the nature of the magnetic coupling between two gadolinium(III) ions.

Single chain magnet behaviour in an enantiopure chiral cobalt(II)-copper(II) one-dimensional compound.

The self-assembly of an enantiomerically pure, chiral dianionic oxamatocopper(II) complex with cobalt(II) ions leads to neutral oxamato-bridged heterobimetallic chains that combine chirality and slow magnetic relaxation, providing thus the first example of "chiral single chain magnets" (CSCMs).

The construction of open Gd(III) metal-organic frameworks based on methanetriacetic acid: new objects with an old ligand.

The preparation, X-ray crystallography and magnetic investigation of the first examples of methanetriacetate (mta)-containing lanthanide(III) complexes of formulae [Gd(mta)(H(2)O)(3)](n)4 n H(2)O (1) [Gd(mta)(H(2)O)(3)](n)2 n H(2)O (2) and [Gd(2)(mta)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](n)2 n H(2)O (3) are described herein. This tripodal ligand promotes the formation of 6(3) networks; thus 1 consists of a honeycomb structure, whereas in 2 two of these layers are condensed to form a rare five-connected two-dimensional (4(8)6(2)) network. Compound 3 can be seen as an aggregation of 6(3) layers leading to a three-dimensional (6,6)-connected binodal (4(12)6(3))(4(9)6(6))-nia net, in which the gadolinium(III) ions and the mta ligands act as octahedral and as trigonal prismatic nodes, respectively. The magnetic properties of 1-3 were investigated in the temperature range 1.9-300 K. A close fit to the Curie law (1) and weak either antiferro- [J=-0.0063(1) cm(-1) (2)] or ferromagnetic [J=+0.0264(6) cm(-1) (3)] interactions between the Gd(III) ions are observed; the different exchange pathways involved [extended tris-bidentate mta (1) and mu-O(1);kappa(2)O(1),O(2) (2 and 3) plus single syn-syn carboxylate-mta (3)] accounting for these magnetic features. The nature and magnitude of the magnetic interactions, between the Gd(III) ions in 1-3, agree with the small amount of data existing in the literature for these kind of bridges.

Study of the influence of the bridge on the magnetic coupling in cobalt(II) complexes.

Two new cobalt(II) complexes of formula [Co(2)(bta)(H(2)O)(6)](n) x 2nH(2)O (1) and [Co(phda)(H(2)O)](n) x nH(2)O (2) [H(4)bta = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid, H(2)phda = 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid] have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 is a one-dimensional compound where the bta(4-) ligand acts as 2-fold connector between the cobalt(II) ions through two carboxylate groups in para-conformation. Triply bridged dicobalt(II) units occur within each chain, a water molecule, a carboxylate group in the syn-syn conformation, and an oxo-carboxylate with the mu(2)O(1);kappa(2)O(1),O(2) coordination mode acting as bridges. Compound 2 is a three-dimensional compound, where the phda(2-) group acts as a bridge through its two carboxylate groups, one of them adopting the mu-O,O' coordination mode in the syn-syn conformation and the other exhibiting the single mu(2)-O'' bridging mode. As in 1, chains of cobalt(II) ions occur in 2 with a water molecule, a syn-syn carboxylate group, and an oxo-carboxylate constitute the triply intrachain bridging skeleton. Each chain is linked to other four ones through the phda(2-) ligand, giving rise to the three-dimensional structure. The values of the intrachain cobalt-cobalt separation are 3.1691(4) (1) and 3.11499(2) A (2) whereas those across the phenyl ring of the extended bta(4-) (1) and phda(2-) (2) groups are 10.1120(6) and 11.4805(69 A, respectively. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 have been investigated in the temperature range 1.9-300 K, and their analysis has revealed the occurrence of moderate intrachain ferromagnetic couplings [J = +5.4 (1) and +2.16 cm(-1) (2), J being the isotropic magnetic coupling parameter], the magnetic coupling through the extended bta(4-) and phda(2-) with cobalt-cobalt separations larger than 10 A being negligible. The nature and magnitude of the magnetic interactions between the high-spin cobalt(II) ions in 1 and 2 are compared to those of related systems and discussed as a function of the complementarity-countercomplementarity effects of the triple bridges.

Cobalt(II) sheet-like systems based on diacetic ligands: from subtle structural variances to different magnetic behaviors.

The preparation, X-ray crystallography, and magnetic investigation of the compounds [Co(H(2)O)(2)(phda)](n) (1), [Co(phda)](n) (2), and [Co(chda)](n) (3) [H(2)phda = 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid and H(2)chda = 1,1-cyclohexanediacetic acid] are described herein. The cobalt atoms in this series are six- (1) and four-coordinated (2 and 3) in distorted octahedral (CoO(6)) and tetrahedral (CoO(4)) environments. The structures of 1-3 consists of rectangular-grids which are built up by sheets of cobalt atoms linked through anti-syn carboxylate bridges, giving rise to either a three-dimensional structure across the phenyl ring (1 and 2) or to regularly stacked layers with the cyclohexyl groups acting as organic separators (3). The magnetic properties of 1-3 were investigated as a function of the temperature and the magnetic field. Ferromagnetic coupling between the six-coordinate cobalt(II) ions across the anti-syn carboxylate bridge occurs in 1 (J = +1.2 cm(-1)) whereas antiferromagnetic coupling among the tetrahedral cobalt(II) centers within the sheets is observed in 2 and 3 [J = -1.63 (2) and -1.70 cm(-1) (3)] together with a spin-canted structure in 3 giving rise a long-range magnetic ordering (T(c) = 7.5 K).

Molecular-programmed self-assembly of homo- and heterometallic tetranuclear coordination compounds: synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of rack-type Cu(II)(2)M(II)(2) complexes (M = Cu and Ni) with tetranucleating phenylenedioxamato bridging ligands.

New homo- and heterobimetallic tetranuclear complexes of formula [Cu(4)(mpba)(Me(4)en)(4)(H(2)O)(4)](ClO(4))(4).3H(2)O (1), [Cu(4)(mpba)(Me(4)en)(4)(H(2)O)(4)](PF(6))(4).2H(2)O (2), [Cu(4)(ppba)(Me(4)en)(4)(H(2)O)(4)](ClO(4))(4).2H(2)O (3), [Cu(4)(mpba)(dipn)(4)](ClO(4))(4).3H(2)O (4), [Cu(4)(ppba)(dipn)(4)](ClO(4))(4).2H(2)O (5), and [Cu(2)Ni(2)(ppba)(dipn)(4)(H(2)O)(2)](PF(6))(4) (6) [mpba = N,N'-1,3-phenylenebis(oxamate), ppba = N,N'-1,4-phenylenebis(oxamate), Me(4)en = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, and dipn = dipropylenetriamine] have been synthesized and structurally and magnetically characterized. Complexes 1-6 have been prepared following a molecular-programmed self-assembly method, where a heteropolytopic tetranucleating phenylenedioxamato bridging ligand (L = mpba or ppba) is bound to four metal ions of identical or different natures (M = Cu(II) and/or Ni(II)) with partially blocked coordination sites by bi- or tridentate polyamine terminal ligands (L' = Me(4)en or dipn). The structures of 1-6 consist of cationic tetranuclear Cu(II)(2)M(II)(2) entities with an overall (4)R rack-type architecture, which is made up of two oxamato-bridged homo- (1-5) or heterodinuclear (6) Cu(II)M(II) units (M = Cu and Ni) connected through either a meta- (1, 2, and 4) or a para-substituted (3, 5, and 6) phenylene spacer between the Cu(II) ions. The magnetic properties of 1-6 have been interpreted according to their "dimer-of-dimers" structure [H = -J(S(1).S(2) + S(3).S(4)) - J'(S(1).S(3)) with S(1) = S(3) = S(Cu) = 1/2 and S(2) = S(4) = S(M) = 1/2 (M = Cu) or 1 (M = Ni)]. The homometallic Cu(II)(4) complexes exhibit either strong (-J = 330-350 cm(-1)) or weak-to-moderate (-J = 4.8-87.1 cm(-1)) antiferromagnetic intradimer couplings through the oxamato bridge, depending on the bi- (1-3) or tridentate (4 and 5) nature of the terminal ligand, respectively. The heterometallic Cu(II)(2)Ni(II)(2) complex with a tridentate terminal ligand (6) shows instead a moderate antiferromagnetic intradimer coupling (-J = 50 cm(-1)). Otherwise, the nature and magnitude of the interdimer coupling cannot be unambiguously determined except for the pair of homo- and heterometallic Cu(II)(2)M(II)(2) complexes [M = Cu (5) and Ni (6)] with the p-phenylenedioxamato bridging ligand and a tridentate terminal ligand, which show a weak antiferromagnetic interdimer coupling (-J' = 14 and 23 cm(-1)) across the para-substituted phenylene spacer.

Low-dimensional copper(II) complexes with the trinucleating ligand 2,4,6-tris(di-2-pyridylamine)-1,3,5-triazine: synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic properties.

The preparation and structural characterization of three new copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(3)(dipyatriz)(2)(H(2)O)(3)](ClO(4))(6) x 2 H(2)O (1), {[Cu(4)(dipyatriz)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(NO(3))(2)(ox)(2)](NO(3))(2) x 2 H(2)O}(n) (2), and [Cu(6)(dipyatriz)(2)(H(2)O)(9)(NO(3))(3)(ox)(3)](NO(3))(3) x 4 H(2)O (3) [dipyatriz = 2,4,6-tris(di-2-pyridylamine)-1,3,5-triazine and ox = oxalate] are reported. The structure of 1 consists of trinuclear units [Cu(3)(dipyatriz)(2)(H(2)O)(3)](6+) and uncoordinated perchlorate anions. The two dipyatriz molecules in 1 act as tris-bidentate ligands with the triazine cores being in a quasi eclipsed conformation. Each copper atom in 1 exhibits a distorted square pyramidal geometry CuN(4)O with four pyridyl-nitrogen atoms from two dipyatriz ligands building the basal plane and a water molecule occupying the axial position. The values of the intratrimer copper-copper separation are 8.0755(6) and 8.3598(8) A. Compound 2 exhibits a layered structure of copper(II) ions which are connected through bis-bidentate dipyatriz ligands and bidentate/outer monodentate oxalato groups. The copper atoms in 2 exhibit six- [Cu(1)N(4)O(2)] and five-coordination [Cu(2)N(2)O(3)]. A water molecule and three pyridyl-nitrogen atoms [Cu(1)] and two pyridyl-nitrogen plus two oxalate-oxygen atoms [Cu(2)] define the equatorial plane whereas either an oxalate-oxygen and a pyridyl-nitrogen [Cu(1)] or a nitrate-oxygen [Cu(2)] fill the axial positions. The copper-copper separation through the bridging oxalato is 5.6091(6) A whereas those across dipyatriz vary in the range 7.801(1)-9.079(1) A. The structure of compound 3 contains discrete cage-like hexacopper(II) units [Cu(6)(dipyatriz)(2)(H(2)O)(9)(NO(3))(3)(ox)(3)](3+) where two trinuclear [Cu(3)(dipyatriz)](6+) fragments are connected by three bis-bidentate oxalate ligands, the charge being balanced by three non-coordinated nitrate anions. The values of the intracage copper-copper distance are 5.112(3)-5.149(2) A (across oxalato) and 7.476(2)-8.098(2) A (through dipyatriz). Magnetic susceptibility measurements of polycrystalline samples of 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-295 K show the occurrence of a weak antiferromagnetic interaction across dipyatriz in 1 [J = -0.08(1) cm(-1), the Hamiltonian being defined as (wedge)H = -J ((wedge)S(1).(wedge)S(2) + (wedge)S(1) x (wedge)S(3) + (wedge)S(2) x (wedge)S(3))] and weak ferro- (2) and strong antiferromagnetic (3) interactions through the oxalato bridge in 2 [J = +0.45(2) cm(-1)] and 3 [J = -390(1) cm(-1)]. The use of the dipyatriz-containing copper(II) species as a building block to design homo- and heterometallic magnetic compounds is analyzed and discussed.

Insertion of a spin crossover Fe(III) complex into an oxalate-based layered material: coexistence of spin canting and spin crossover in a hybrid magnet.

The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of the compounds of formula [Fe (III)(sal 2trien)] 2[Mn (II) 2(ox) 3].4H 2O.C 3H 7NO ( 1) and [In (III)(sal 2trien)] 2[Mn (II) 2(ox) 3].3H 2O.CH 3OH (2) are reported. The structure presents a homometallic 2D honeycomb anionic layer formed by Mn (II) ions linked through oxalate ligands and a cationic double layer of [Fe(sal 2trien)] (+) or [In(sal 2trien)] (+) complexes intercalated between the 2D oxalate network. The magnetic properties and Mössbauer spectroscopy of 1 indicate the coexistence of a magnetic ordering of the Mn(II) oxalate network that behaves as a weak ferromagnet and a gradual spin crossover of the intercalated [Fe(sal 2trien)] (+) complexes.

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of two isomeric three-dimensional pyromellitate-containing cobalt(II) complexes.

The hydrothermal preparation, crystal structure determination, and magnetic study of two isomers made up of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate and high-spin Co(II) ions of formula [Co2(bta)(H2O)4]n x 2n H2O (1 and 2; H4bta = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid) are reported. 1 and 2 are three-dimensional compounds whose structures can be described as (4,4) rectangular layers of trans-diaquacobalt(II) units with the bta(4-) anion acting as tetrakis-monodentate ligand through the four carboxylate groups, which are further connected through other trans-[Co(H2O)2](2+) (1) and planar [Co(H2O)4](2+) (2) entities, with the bridging units being a carboxylate group in either the anti-syn (1) or syn-syn (2) conformations and a water molecule (2). The study of the magnetic properties of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K shows the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the high-spin Co(II) ions, with the strong decrease of chi(M)T upon cooling being mainly due to the depopulation of the higher energy Kramers doublets of the six-coordinated Co(II) ions. The computed values of the exchange coupling between the Co(II) ions across anti-syn carboxylate (1) and syn-syn carboxylate/water (2) bridges are J = -0.060 (1) and -1.90 (2) cm(-1) (with the Hamiltonian being defined as H = -Jsigma(i,j)S(i) x S(j)). These values follow the different conformations of the carboxylate bridge in 1 (anti-syn) and 2 (syn-syn) with the occurrence of a double bridge in 2 (water/carboxylate).

Unusual (mu-aqua)bis(mu-carboxylate) bridge in homometallic M(II) (M=Mn, Co and Ni) two-dimensional compounds based on the 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties.

The first coordination compounds of 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate anion (butca4-) of the formula [M2(butca)(H2O)5]n.2nH2O [M=Mn(II) (1), Co(II) (2), and Ni(II) (3)] were prepared and their X-ray crystal structures and magnetic properties investigated. The three complexes have a very similar two-dimensional structure which consists of (4,4) networks, 1 and 2 being isostructural. The tetracarboxylate ligand acts as a 4-fold connector leading to two-dimensional (4,4) networks of metal atoms, this topology being possible because of its planar conformation. The nodes of these networks are formed by dinuclear motifs which exhibit the unusual (mu-aqua)bis(mu-carboxylate) bridging unit which is analogous to that observed in some molecules of biological interest. The variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1-3 show that 1 and 2 are antiferromagnetically coupled systems whereas 3 exhibits a ferromagnetic behavior. The analysis of the magnetic data of 1-3 through a simple dinuclear model allowed the determination of the values of the magnetic coupling (J) -3.6 (1), -1.2 (2), and +1.47 cm(-1) (3) with the Hamiltonian being defined as H=-JSA.SB. The countercomplementarity between the two bridges (aqua and syn-syn carboxylate) accounts for the trend exhibited by the values of the magnetic coupling in this family.

New anionic cobalt complexes using highly hindered bis-amides with varying donor abilities as ligands.

Four potential tetradentate ligands of formulae 1,2-bis-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzamido)ethane (H(4)L(1), 1), 1,2-bis-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzamido)propane (H(4)L(2), 2), 1,2-bis-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzamido)benzene (H(4)L(3), 3) and 1,8-bis-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzamido)naphthalene (H(4)L(4), 4) have been prepared and the crystal structures of three of them (1, 3 and 4) determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The investigation of their complexing ability toward Co(II) afforded the compounds of formulae [Co(III)(L(3))Na(I)(H(2)O)(2)] (5), [Co(III)(L(n))Li(I)(H(2)O)2] with n = 1 (6), 2 (7) and 3 (8) and [Co(II)(L(4))Li(I)(2)] (9). Complexes 5-8 are square planar Co(III) species, as corroborated by the crystal structure of 5. In this compound, two amide-nitrogen and two phenolate-oxygen atoms of a fully deprotonated (L(3))(4-) anion build a slightly distorted square planar surrounding around the cobalt atom, the Co-N distances [1.858(3) and 1.861(3) A] being somewhat longer than the Co-O ones [1.798(3) and 1.801(3) A]. Magnetic and 1H NMR data at room temperature for 6-8 support the occurrence of an intermediate S = 1 low-lying state for the Co(III) center which is stabilized by the strong donating ability of the fully deprotonated bis-amidate ligands. In the case of the compound with the naphthalene derivative (9), the analytical and spectroscopic data suggest the occurrence of a low spin Co(II) complex. The weakening of the ligand field strength of the tetradentate bis-amidate ligand in the naphthalene derivative (5-6-5 ring-membered fused chelate) when compared to the situation in complexes 5-8 (5-5-5 ring-membered fused chelate) would account for this feature.

Ligand design for heterobimetallic single-chain magnets: synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of MIICuII (M=Mn, Co) chains with sterically hindered methyl-substituted phenyloxamate bridging ligands.

Two new series of neutral oxamato-bridged heterobimetallic chains of general formula [MCu(L(x))(2)] m DMSO (m=0-4) (L(1)=N-2-methylphenyloxamate, M=Mn (1 a) and Co (1 b); L(2)=N-2,6-dimethylphenyloxamate, M=Mn (2 a) and Co (2 b); L(3)=N-2,4,6-trimethylphenyloxamate, M=Mn (3 a) and Co (3 b)) have been prepared by reaction between the corresponding anionic oxamatocopper(II) complexes [Cu(Lx)2](2-) with Mn(2+) or Co(2+) cations in DMSO. The crystal structures of [CoCu(L2)2(H2O)2] (2 b') and [CoCu(L3)2(H2O)2]4 H2O (3 b') have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Compounds 2 b' and 3 b' adopt zigzag and linear chain structures, respectively. The intrachain Cu...Co distance through the oxamate bridge is 5.296(1) A in 2 b' and 5.301(2) A in 3 b', while the shortest interchain Co...Co distance is 5.995(5) A in 2 b' and 8.702(3) A in 3 b', that is, the chains are well isolated in the crystal lattice due to the presence of the bulky methyl-substituted phenyl groups. Although both Mn(II)Cu(II) and Co(II)Cu(II) chains exhibit ferrimagnetic behaviour with moderately strong intrachain antiferromagnetic coupling (-J(Mn,Cu)=24.7-27.9 cm(-1) and -J(Co,Cu)=35.0-45.8 cm(-1); H= Sigma -J(M,Cu)S(M,i)S(Cu,i)), only the Co(II)Cu(II) chains show slow magnetic relaxation at low temperatures (T(B)<3.5 K), which is characteristic of single-chain magnets (SCMs) because of the high magnetic anisotropy of the Co(II) ion. The blocking temperatures T(B) along this series of chains vary according to the steric hindrance of the aromatic substituent of the oxamate ligand in the series L(1)

Malonate-containing manganese(III) complexes: synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of AsPh4[Mn(mal)2(H2O)2].

The novel manganese(III) complexes PPh4[Mn(mal)2(H2O)2] (1) and AsPh4[Mn(mal)2(H2O)2] (2) (PPh4+ = tetraphenylphosphonium cation, AsPh4+ = tetraphenylarsonium cation, and H2mal = malonic acid) have been prepared, and the structure of 2 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. 2 is a mononuclear complex whose structure is made up of trans-diaquabis(malonato)manganate(III) units and tetraphenylarsonium cations. Two crystallographically independent manganese(III) ions (Mn(1) and Mn(2)) occur in 2 that exhibit elongated octahedral surroundings with four oxygen atoms from two bidentate malonate groups in equatorial positions (Mn(1)-O = 1.923(6) and 1.9328(6) A and Mn(2)-O = 1.894(6) and 1.925(6) A) and two trans-coordinated water molecules in the axial sites (Mn(1)-Ow = 2.245(6) A and Mn(2)-Ow = 2.268(6) A). The [Mn(mal)2(H2O)2]- units are linked through hydrogen bonds involving the free malonate-oxygen atoms and the coordinated water molecules to yield a quasi-square-type anionic layer growing in the ab plane. The shortest intralayer metal-metal separations are 7.1557(7) and 7.1526(7) A (through the edges of the square). The anionic sheets are separated from each other by layers of AsPh4+ where sextuple- and double-phenyl embraces occur. The magnetic behavior of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 1.9-290 K reveals the occurrence of weak intralayer ferromagnetic interactions (J = +0.081(1) (1) and +0.072(2) cm(-1) (2)). These values are compared to those of the weak antiferromagnetic coupling [J = -0.19(1) cm(-1)], which is observed in the chain compound K2[Mn(mal)2(MeOH)2][Mn(mal)2] (3), where the exchange pathway involves the carboxyate-malonate bridge in the anti-syn conformation. The structure of 3 was reported elsewhere. Theoretical calculations on fragment models of 2 and 3 were performed to analyze and substantiate both the nature and magnitude of the magnetic couplings observed.

Nuclearity controlled cyanide-bridged bimetallic CrIII-MnII compounds: synthesis, crystal structures, magnetic properties and theoretical calculations.

The preparation, X-ray crystallography and magnetic investigation of the compounds PPh4[Cr(bipy)(CN)4].2 CH3CN.H2O (1) (mononuclear), [[Cr(bipy)(CN)4]2Mn-(H2O)4].4H2O (2) (trinuclear), [[Cr(bipy)(CN)4]2Mn(H2O)2] (3) (chain) and [[Cr(bipy)(CN)4]2Mn(H2O)].H2O.CH3CN (4) (double chain) [bipy=2,2'-bipyridine; PPh4 (+)=tetraphenylphosphonium] are described herein. The [Cr(bipy)(CN)4]- unit act either as a monodentate (2) or bis-monodentate (3) ligand toward the manganese atom through one (2) or two (3) of its four cyanide groups. The manganese atom is six-coordinate with two (2) or four (3) cyanide nitrogens and four (2) or two (3) water molecules building a distorted octahedral environment. In 4, two chains of 3 are pillared through interchain Mn-N-C-Cr links which replace one of the two trans-coordinated water molecules at the manganese atom to afford a double chain structure where bis- and tris-monodenate coordination modes of [Cr(bipy)(CN)4]- coexist. The magnetic properties of 1-4 were investigated in the temperature range 1.9-300 K. A Curie law behaviour for a magnetically isolated spin quartet is observed for 1. A significant antiferromagnetic interaction between CrIII and MnII through the single cyanide bridge [J=-6.2 cm(-1), the Hamiltonian being defined as H=-J(SCr1.SMn+SCr2.SMn] occurs in 2 leading to a low-lying spin doublet which is fully populated at T <5 K. A metamagnetic behaviour is observed for 3 and 4 [the values of the critical field Hc being ca. 3000 (3) and 1500 Oe (4)] which is associated to the occurrence of weak interchain antiferromagnetic interactions between ferrimagnetic Cr2III MnII chains. The analysis of the exchange pathways in 2-4 through DFT type calculations together with the magnetic bevaviour simulation using the quantum Monte Carlo methodology provided a good understanding of their magnetic properties.

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of single and double cyanide-bridged bimetallic Fe2(III)Cu(II) zigzag chains.

The bimetallic complexes [[Fe(III)(phen)(CN)4]2Cu(II)(H2O)2].4H2O (1), [[Fe(III)(phen)(CN)4]2Cu(II)].H2O (2) and [[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)4]2Cu(II)].2H2O (3) and [[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)4]2Cu(II)(H2O)2].4H2O (4) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) have been prepared and the structures of 1-3 determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure of 1 is made up of neutral cyanide-bridged Fe(III)-Cu(II) zigzag chains of formula [[Fe(III)(phen)(CN)4]2Cu(II)(H2O)2] and uncoordinated water molecules with the [Fe(phen)(CN)4]- entity acting as a bis-monodentate bridging ligand toward two trans-diaquacopper(II) units through two of its four cyanide groups in cis positions. The structure of 2 can be viewed as the condensation of two chains of 1 connected through single cyanide-bridged Fe(III)-Cu(II) pairs after removal of the two axially coordinated water molecules of the copper atom. The structure of 3 is like that of 2, the main differences being the occurrence of bipy (phen in 2) and two (one in 2) crystallization water molecules. The crystals of 4 diffract poorly but the analysis of the limited set of diffraction data shows a chain structure like that of 1 the most important difference being the fact that elongation axis at the copper atom is defined by the two trans coordinated water molecules. 1 behaves as a ferromagnetic Fe(III)2Cu(II) trinuclear system. A metamagnetic-like behavior is observed for 2 and 3, the value of the critical field (Hc) being ca. 1100 (2) and 900 Oe (3). For H > Hc the ferromagnetic Fe(III)2Cu(II) chains exhibit frequency dependence of the out-of-phase ac susceptibility signal at T < 4.0 K. The magnetic behavior of 4 corresponds to that of a ferromagnetically coupled chain of low spin iron(III) and copper(II) ions with frequency dependence of the out-of-phase susceptibility at T < 3.0 K. Theoretical calculations using methods based on density functional theory (DFT) have been employed to analyze and substantiate the exchange pathways in this family of complexes.

Spin control in ladderlike hexanuclear copper(II) complexes with metallacyclophane cores.

Two new hexanuclear oxamatocopper(II) complexes 3 and 4 have been synthesized from the binuclear copper(II) complexes of the meta- and para-phenylenebis(oxamate) ligands, respectively. Complexes 3 and 4 possess an overall ladderlike structure made up of two oxamate-bridged linear trinuclear units ("rails") connected through two phenylenediamidate bridges ("rungs") between the central copper atoms to give metallacyclic cores of the meta- and para-cyclophane type, respectively. They show different ground spin states, S = 1 (3) or S = 0 (4), depending on the substitution pattern in the aromatic spacers. The triplet state molecule 3 containing two spin doublet Cu(II)3 units connected by two m-phenylenediamidate bridges represents a successful extension of the concept of "ferromagnetic coupling units" to metal complexes, which is a well-known approach toward high spin organic radicals.

Design of high-dimensional copper(II) malonate complexes with exo-polydentate N-donor ligands.

Two polymeric malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of formulas [(H(2)bpe)[Cu(mal)2]]n.4nH2O (1) and [Cu(4")(mal)(4)(bpe)(3)]n.6nH(2)O (2) [mal = malonate dianion; bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene] have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in triclinic space group P(-)1, Z = 1, with unit cell parameters a = 4.8831(10) A, b = 9.585(2) A, c = 11.813(2) A, alpha = 77.29(3) degrees, beta = 82.18(3) degrees, and gamma = 84.92(3) degrees, whereas complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, Z = 4, with unit cell parameters a = 13.462(3) A, b = 10.275(5) A, c = 19.579(4) A, and beta = 105.21(3) degrees. The structure of 1 consists of anionic malonato-bridged uniform copper(II) chains which are connected through hydrogen bonds involving malonate-oxygen atoms, noncoordinated water molecules, and H(2)bpe(2+) cations. The intrachain copper-copper separation through carboxylate-malonate bridge in the anti-syn conformation is 4.8831(10) A. Complex 2 possesses a three-dimensional structure made up of neutral corrugated malonated-bridged copper(II) layers linked through bis-monodentate bpe molecules. The copper(II) atoms within each layer are bridged by a double mu-oxo and four carboxylato-malonate bridges with copper-copper separations of 3.4095(7) A (through oxo) and 4.9488(11)-6.5268(13) A (through carboxylato). The shortest interlayer copper-copper separation across bridging bpe is 13.434(3) A. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements (2-290 K) show an overall ferromagnetic behavior for both compounds. The magnetic pathway of complex 1 is through a single carboxylate-malonate bridge connecting apical and equatorial positions of adjacent copper(II) atoms, and the value of the magnetic coupling (J) for 1 through a numerical expression for a ferromagnetic uniform chain of interacting local doublets is J = +0.049(1) cm(-1). The values for the magnetic couplings through the main intralayer exchange pathways in 2 which correspond to carboxylate-malonate bridges connecting equatorial-equatorial (J(1)) and equatorial-apical (J(2)) coordination sites and to the double mu-oxo bridge linking equatorial-apical (J(5)) positions have been determined through a simplified model. The three magnetic couplings are weak, two of them being ferromagnetic (J(1) = +23(1) cm(-1) and J(2) = +6.5(1) cm(-1)) and the other one antiferromagnetic [zJ' = -1.0(1) cm(-1)]. The values of the magnetic couplings in 1 and 2 compare well with those previously reported for similar malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of different dimensionalities.