A unique ferromagnetically coupled non-coplanar double μ-1,3-azido-bridged binuclear Ni(II) complex

A new double μ-1,3-azido-bridged binuclear Ni(II) complex 1 ([Ni2(L)2(μ-N3)2](ClO4)2 (L = [N,N′,N″-tris(4-methoxylbenzyl)tris(2-aminoethyl)amine]) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and magnetic measurements. In 1, two N3- ligands bridge two Ni(II) ions with the μ-1,3 mode and cross each other to give a rarely observed non-coplanar (N3)2 structure. The unique ferromagnetic coupling mediated by double μ-1,3-azido bridges mainly attributes to the Ni-N-N-N-Ni torsion angles being approaching 90°.