Hexacyanometalates as templates for heteropolynuclear complexes and molecular magnets: synthesis and crystal structure of [Fe{(CN)Cu(tpa)}6][ClO4]8·3H2O, [tpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]

Abstract

Reaction of [Fe(CN)₆]^3– with [Cu(tpa)(OH₂)]²⁺ produces a bimetallic heptanuclear complex, [Fe{(CN)Cu(tpa)}₆]-[ClO₄]₈·3H₂O, which is characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and shown to consist of an iron(II) centre connected by cyano bridges to six copper(II) centres forming spherical units of [Fe{(CN)Cu(tpa)}₆]⁸⁺.