Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of heterometal hexanuclear [MnIII2LnIII4] complexes

Heterometal hexanuclear manganese–lanthanide complexes, [MnIII2LnIII4(μ4-O)2(Hbemp)2(OMe)2(OAc)8]·nH2O (Ln = Lu (1, n = 1) and Tm (2, n = 5), H3bemp = 2,6-bis[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminomethyl]-4-methylphenol), were prepared and their magnetic properties were examined. The Mn2Ln4 units at the cluster cores consist of one central MnIII2LnIII2O4 cubane unit and two lanthanide(III) ions bridged by μ2-phenoxo groups of the ligands, and μ2-methoxo and μ4-oxo groups, forming the Mn2Ln4 hexanuclear cluster. Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that antiferromagnetic interactions were operative between metal centres.

Graphical abstractHeterometal hexanuclear manganese–lanthanide complexes were prepared and their magnetic properties examined. The core structure of both complexes consists of one central MnIII2LnIII2O4 cubane unit and two lanthanide(III) ions bridged by μ2-phenoxo, μ2-methoxo and μ4-oxo groups, forming Mn2Ln4 hexanuclear clusters. Cryomagnetic studies revealed that antiferromagnetic interactions between metal ions were in operation.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► This work is related to a field of discrete magnetic clusters directed toward heterometallic single-molecule magnets. ► Two kinds of manganese -lanthanide heterometal complex were synthesized, and their structure and magnetic properties have been investigated. ► The complexation behaviour in this report will provide a useful piece of information on the syntheses of mixed-metal magnetic clusters.