Magnetic property of a triply bridged linear trinuclear nickel complex

► Synthesis of a linear trinuclear nickel(II) complex. ► Cinnamic anion shows 2.11 and 2.21 carboxylate bridging modes. ► It shows an intramolecular ferromagnetic and an intermolecular antiferromagnetic interaction. ► Relative strength of magnetic exchange through different bridging groups. ► Understanding of magnetic exchange coupling using DFT technique.