EPR, Mössbauer and magnetic studies of coordination polymers of type [CuxFey(dedb)·2H2O]n (dedb = dianion of 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis (ethylamino)-1,4-benzoquinone) (x = 0–1, y = 0–1)

•Cu(II) doped Fe(III) coordination polymers have been prepared and characterized.•Mössbauer studies reveals presence of high spin Fe(III) with traces of Fe(II).•EPR studies corroborates the Mössbauer results for the presence of Fe(III).•Antiferromagnetic Cu-polymer while ferromagnetic Cu-doped iron polymers.•Mixed metal polymers exhibit higher conductivity than pure metal polymers.

Spectroscopic studies of newly synthesized coordination polymers of the type [CuxFey(dedb)·2H2O]n {where dedb = dianion of 2,5-dichloro-3,6-bis(ethylamino)-1,4-benzoquinone (1); x = 1, y = 0 (2); 0, 0.67 (3); 0.5, 0.33 (4); 0.25, 0.5 (5); 0.125, 0.583 (6); 0.0625, 0.625 (7) and n = degree of polymerization} have been carried out by IR, Mössbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic techniques. Powder X-ray diffraction studies reveal the crystalline nature of the polymers. Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopic studies and variable temperature susceptibility measurements indicate the presence of high spin Fe(III) (S = 5/2) in the polymers. A rare coexistence of ferromagnetism and electrical conductivity observed is discussed under present communication.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide