A linear CuII–GdIII–CuII–GdIII complex derived from the assembly reaction of [NaCuIIH3Ldpen(meso)] and [GdIII(thd)3(H2O)2] (H3L = meso-1,2-diphenyl-1-(2-oxybenzamido)-2-(2-oxy-3-ethoxybenzylideneamino)ethane and Hthd = 2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-3,5-heptanedion

A linear tetranuclear CuII–GdIII–CuII–GdIII complex [CuIILdpen(meso)GdIII(thd)2(H2O)]2 was synthesized from the reaction of [NaCuIILdpen(meso)(DMF)] with [GdIII(thd)3(H2O)2], and the structures and magnetic properties were investigated, where H3Ldpen(meso) = meso-1,2-diphenyl-1-(2-hydroxybenzamido)-2-(2-hydroxy-3-ethoxybenzylideneamino)ethane and Hthd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione. The CuII complex component [NaCuIILdpen(meso)(DMF)] has a one-dimensional (1D) chain structure, in which the Na+ ion is coordinated by two phenoxo and an ethoxy oxygen atoms of a CuII complex and an amido oxygen atom of the adjacent CuII unit to produce the 1D structure, in which the diphenylethylenediamine moieties have the array of {(1R,2S)-Na-(1S,2R)}1∞. The assembly reaction of the CuII and GdIII components gave a linear complex with the array of Cu(1)–Gd(1)–Cu(2)–Gd(2), in which two diphenylethylenediamine moieties have the same chirality of (1R,2S)-(1R,2S) or (1S,2R)-(1S,2R). Two linear Cu(1)–Gd(1)–Cu(2)–Gd(2) units are linked by hydrogen bonds through two water molecules to give a cyclic structure with a center of symmetry. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibilities and field-dependent magnetization revealed the ferromagnetic interaction between the CuII and GdIII ions within the linear chain.

Graphical abstractThe CuII complex component [NaCuIILdpen(meso)(DMF)] has a one-dimensional (1D) structure in which the diphenylethylenediamine moieties have the array of {(1R,2S)-Na-(1S,2R)}1∞. The assembly reaction of [NaCuIILdpen(meso)] and [GdIII(thd)3(H2O)2] gives a linear tetranuclear complex of Cu(1)–Gd(1)–Cu(2)–Gd(2) with (1R,2S)-Gd(1)-(1R,2S)-Gd(2) or (1S,2R)-Gd(1)-(1S,2R)-Gd(2) and forms a hydrogen-bonded cyclic structure.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► The assembly reaction of CuII- and GdIII-components gave a linear CuII–GdIII–CuII–GdIII complex. The CuII component of a chiral tetradentate ligand has donor coordination ability. The GdIII component has acceptor coordination ability. The chiral effect on the assembly reaction has been examined.