Experimental and theoretical study of the influence of peripheral environment on magnetic properties of tetranuclear manganese skeleton in new representatives of calix[4]arene-containing [MnII2 MnIII2] clusters

•A new representative of calix[4]arene-containing Mn4-core complex with 2,2′-dipyridyl ligand was synthesized.•The crystal structure and magnetic properties of this complex have been studied.•The control of the exchange coupling interaction type can be provided by peripheral ligands.

A new representative of calix[4]arene-containing tetranuclear manganese complexes of [Mn2IIIMn2II] type with 2,2′-dipyridyl bidentate ligand coordinated in the equatorial plane of the complex (II) has been obtained. The complex is crystallized in monoclinic space group P21/c (a = 14.9402(7) Å, b = 32.816(1) Å, c = 21.595(1) Å, β = 106.888(4)). Its magnetic properties have been studied by the method of SQUID magnetometry. The substitution of a peripheral ligand was shown to influence substantially on the structure of the central fragment of the metal complex, and, hence, on the magnetic properties. Quantum-chemical calculations were performed for this complex and for the similar calix[4]arene-containing manganese complex with pyridine ligand (I). The influence of peripheral environment on the magnetic properties of tetranuclear manganese skeleton was elucidated for both complexes.

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