Supramolecular isomorphic dodecanuclear cobalt clusters with the same metal shell but different core ligands

Abstract

In this work, we report two supramolecular isomorphic dodecanuclear cobalt complexes, [Co₁₂(mtz)₃(L)₆(NO₃)₂(OH)(N₃)₃]·(OH)₃ (1) and [Co₁₂(mtz)₃(L)₆(NO₃)₂(OH)(N₃)(OAc)]·(OH)₄ (2), (Hmtz = 5-methyl-1H-tetrazole, H₂L = 7,7′-(ethane-1,1-diyl) diquinolin-8-ol) crystallizing in the space group with the same unit cell parameters. In 1 and 2, two pirate hat-like hexanuclear Co₆(NO₃)(L)₃ units form the same dodecanuclear metal shell, but the ligands between the hexanuclear units as the core are distinct. The introduction of acetate anions leads to a blue shift of the absorption band in the visible region. Magnetism studies indicate an antiferromagnetic interaction between the Co^II ions in the clusters.