Crystal structure and magnetic properties of a linear trinuclear Ni(II) complex

[Ni-3(C2H3O2)(2)(CH3OH)(2)L-2] [L = 1,3-bis(5-chlorosalicylideneamino)propan-2-ol dianion, (C2H3O2)(-) = acetate, (CH3OH) = methanol] was synthesized and its crystal structure was determined. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 12.694(2), b = 13.281(4), c = 15.420(3) Angstrom, beta = 111.25(2)degrees, V = 2422.9(9) Angstrom (3), Z = 2. The molecule is a "linear" trinuclear complex with nearly octahedral coordination of each nickel ion. Adjacent nickel(II) ions are bridged by the phenolic oxygen atoms of the ligands and the oxygen atoms of the acetato ligands. The coordination sphere of the terminal nickel(II) ions is completed by the oxygen atom of the methanol. Adjacent nickel(II) centers are separated by 3.043(1) Angstrom and weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (J(1) = -3.3 cm(-1)). The terminal nickel(II) centers are separated by 6.086(1) Angstrom and very weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (J(2) = -0.3 cm(-1)) which follows from temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature range 4.5 to 318 K. The magnetic moment rises from 2.99 mu (B) at 45 K to 5.42 mu (B) at 318 K. In the chi (T) curve no characteristic maximum was observed.