Heterotrimetallic CuII(L)-LnIII-MIII (M = Cr, Fe; Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd) Complexes Ranging from 0D Clusters to 1D Chains and 2D Networks: Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetism

Four heterotrimetallic complexes, {[Cu(L)Pr(H2O)(4)][Fe(CN)(6)]}(2)2CH(3)OH5H(2)O (1), {[Cu(L)Nd(H2O)(4)][Fe(CN)(6)]}(2)CH(3)OH6H(2)O (2), {[Cu(L)Sm (H2O)(4)][Cr(CN)(6)]CH(3)OH3H(2)O}(n) (3), and {[Cu(L)Gd(H2O)(3)][Fe(CN)(6)]CH(3)OH0.5CH(3)CN2H(2)O}(n) [4; L = N,N-ethylenebis(3-methoxysalicylideneiminato) dianion] were synthesized by a self-assembly method and characterized structurally and magnetically. The results indicate that 1 and 2 are discrete hexanuclear clusters, whereas 3 and 4 form 1D regular chains and 2D networks, respectively. Interestingly, all of the structures possess the same structural inner core of Cu-II(L)-Ln(III)-M-III units, which can produce a variety of different structural forms. Magnetic measurements reveal that weak d-f magnetic coupling and the single-ion magnetic effect of the Ln(III) ions both contribute to the final magnetic behavior.