Homo- and heterometallic planes, chains and cubanes

Abstract

The synthesis, structural and magnetic characterisation of a family of homo- and heterometallic complexes constructed with the Schiff base ligands 2-iminomethyl-6-methoxy-phenol (L₁H) and 2-imino-6-methoxy-phenol (L₂H), are discussed. Members include the heterometallic tetranuclear complexes of general formula [Na₂M₂(X)₂(L₁)₄(Y)₂] (where M = Fe^III, X = ⁻OMe, Y = NO₃⁻ (1) and M = Ni^II, X = N₃⁻ and Y = MeCN (2)), each possessing a butterfly-like topology. We also report the formation of the heterometallic molecular cage [Na₃Ni₂(L₁)₆](ClO₄) (3) whose metallic skeleton describes a [rare] trigonal bipyramid, the homometallic 1-D coordination polymer [Mn(L₁)₂(Cl)]_n (4), and the tetranuclear cubane clusters [Mn^III₃Mn^IV(O)₃(OEt)(OAc)₃(L₁)₃] (5) and [Ni₄(μ₃-OMe)₄(L₂)₄(MeOH)₄] (6). Dc and ac magnetic susceptibility studies on complexes 5 and 6 reveal S = 9/2 and S = 4 spin ground states.