Rare trinuclear NiII2MII complexes (MII = Mn, Fe and Co) with a reduced Schiff base ligand: Synthesis, structures and magnetic properties

Abstract

Three new trinuclear hetero-metallic NiII2MII complexes with MII = Mn, Fe and Co have been synthesized using a [NiLR] “metalloligand”, where H2LR = N,N′-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,3-propanediamine. All complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic methods, single crystal XRD and magnetic and electrochemical studies. In the three complexes, in addition to the double phenoxido bridges, the two terminal NiII atoms are linked to the central MII [M = Mn(1), Fe(2) and Co(3)] ion by means of a bridging carboxylato co-anion, giving rise to a linear NiII-MII-NiII structure. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show the presence of weak ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions mediated through the double phenoxido bridges with J values of +8.5 and −3.0 cm−1 for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. Compound 3 shows the presence of antiferromagnetic interactions. Cyclic voltammetry shows a common quasi-reversible one electron oxidation corresponding to the Ni(II)/Ni(III) process in 1–3 and an irreversible M(II)/M(III) oxidation for Mn(1) and Fe(2).