A heterometallic Ni2Gd2 complex : Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties

•Heterotetranuclear NiII2–GdIII2 compound•Tetradentate nitrate ligand•Ferromagnetic interactions

A novel tetranuclear complex [Ni2Gd2(L)2(CH3COO)2(NO3)2](NO3)2·6H2O·4MeOH (1) with a nitrate ion coordinating in a manner observed until now only in polymeric structures was obtained. The NO3− anion acts both as chelating (chelates to the Gd(III) ion) and bridging (between Ni(II) and Gd(III)) ligand and it also links the two symmetrically dependent parts of molecules into one tetranuclear unit through the short bridge between GdIII and GdIII cations. In 1 the ferromagnetic interactions between Ni(II) and Gd(III) (JNi–Gd = 0.6(2) cm− 1) as well as Gd(III) and Gd(III) (JGd–Gd = 0.5(1) cm− 1) ions are observed.

Graphical abstractA nitrato-bridged tetranuclear complex [Ni2Gd2(L)2(CH3COO)2(NO3)2](NO3)2·6H2O·4MeOH (1) was synthesized. The magnetic interactions between Ni(II) and Gd(III) as well as Gd(III) and Gd(III) metal centers are ferromagnetic (JNi–Gd = 0.6(2) cm− 1 and JGd–Gd = 0.5(1) cm− 1).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide