Structure and Magnetic Properties of a 3d–4f-Doped Hexagonal Heterometallic Cluster

2-(2,3-Dihydroxpropyliminomethyl)6-methoxyphenol (H3L), trimethylacetic acid (Hpiv), Dy(NO3)3·6H2O and Co(NO3)2·6H2O were reacted at 80 °C to obtain a heterometallic hexanuclear cluster [Dy2Co4(L)2(μ3-OH)2(piv)8]·2Hpiv·2H2O (1). X-ray crystallographic study reveals that complex 1 displays a central planar butterfly motif consisting of the Dy2IIICo2II, with another two CoII ions ‘‘capping’’ around the periphery of the butterfly. Magnetic studies suggest that 1 displays little out-of-phase component of the ac-susceptibilities in zero dc-field, and observed weak imaginary component.