Spin canting and metamagnetism in the two azido-bridged 1D complexes [Ni(3,5-dmpy)2(N3)2]n and [Co1.5(3,5-dmpy)3(N3)3]n

Two 1D systems with formulae [Ni(3,5-dmpy)(2)(N-3)(2)](n) (1) and [Co-1.5(3,5-dmpy)(3)(N-3)(3)](n) (2) (where 3,5-dmpy stands for 3,5-dimethylpyridine) have been synthesized, and their magnetic properties have been analyzed. Both complexes crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, with a = 13.302(3) angstrom, b = 7.5138(15) angstrom, c = 16.637(3) angstrom and beta = 103.61(3)degrees, and a = 11.559(2) angstrom, b = 14.136(3) angstrom, c = 16.174(3) angstrom and beta = 98.08(3)degrees, for 1 and 2 respectively. Compound 1 consists of a chain of nickel ions linked by double EE (end-to-end) azido bridges. In complex 2, the cobalt ions are linked by azide moieties, with an EO (end-on)-EO-EE sequence. Magnetic studies performed in the temperature range 2.0-300 K reveal that 1 and 2 exhibit spin-canting antiferromagnetic interactions along the azido-bridged chain. In addition, these magnetic investigations indicate that complex 1 behaves as a metamagnet.