Synthesis and characterization of tetrakis(μ-hydroxo)tetrakis(2,2′-dipicolylamine)tetranickel perchlorate, a nickel-hydroxy cubane complex

A novel tetranuclear complex, [Ni(μ₃-OH)(DPA)]₄(ClO₄)₄ (where DPA = 2,2′-dipicolylamine) has been synthesized, with characterization including electronic and infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, crystal structure analysis, and variable-temperature and variable-field magnetic susceptibility measurements. The complex features a 4Ni-4OH cubane-type cluster, displaying both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic intracluster interactions in a 2J model (J₁ = −3.4 cm⁻¹, J₂ = 4.7 cm⁻¹, D = 2.0 cm⁻¹). Each nickel atom sits in a pseudooctahedral environment, with one DPA molecule facially coordinated and the remaining three coordination sites occupied by the bridging hydroxide anions that make up the cubane core.     

Structure and magnetic properties of a tetranuclear Cu4O4 open-cubane in [Cu(L)]4·4H2O with L = (E)-N′-(2-oxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide

The in-situ formed hydrazone Schiff base ligand (E)-N′-(2-oxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide (L²⁻) reacts with copper(II) acetate to a tetranuclear open cubane [Cu(L)]₄ complex which crystallizes as two symmetry-independent (Z′ = 2) S₄-symmetrical molecules in different twofold special positions with a homodromic water tetramer. The two independent (A and B) open- or pseudo-cubanes with Cu₄O₄ cores of 4 + 2 class (Ruiz classification) each have three different magnetic exchange pathways leading to an overall antiferromagnetic coupling with J_1B = J_2B = −17.2 cm⁻¹, J_1A = −36.7 cm⁻¹, J_2A = −159 cm⁻¹, J_3A = J_3B = 33.5 cm⁻¹, g = 2.40 and ρ = 0.0687. The magnetic properties have been analysed using the H = −Σ_i,jJ_ij(S_iS_j) spin Hamiltonian.     

Structures and magnetic properties of dicopper(II) and dinickel(II) complexes with end-on azido bridges

An asymmetric single EO azido bridged dinuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu₂(dmterpy)₂(μ-1,1-N₃)(N₃)₂] · NO₃ · (H₂O)₂1 [dmterpy = 5,5″-dimethyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine], and a double EO azido bridged dinuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni₂(pbdiim)₄(μ-1,1-N₃)₂] · 2(N₃) · 6(H₂O) 2 [pbdiim = 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d′]diimidazole], have been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Compound 1 consists of a single EO azido bridged Cu^II dimer in which each Cu^II ion is five-coordinated in the form of a distorted square-based pyramid. The N_(μ−1,1) atom holds on the apical position of one Cu^II pyramid with an elongated bond length of 2.305 Å and on the basal plane of another distorted Cu^II pyramid with a bond length of 1.991 Å. The Cu-N_(μ−1,1)-Cu angle is 117.4 (2)°. The copper(II) dimer forms a 1 D zig-zag chain via hydrogen bondings between azide ions, water molecules and the nitrate anion. Compound 2 consists of a double EO azido bridged Ni^II dimer with the Ni-N_(μ−1,1)-Ni bond angle of 102.96 (13)°. The coordination geometry of Ni^II is octahedral. Their magnetic properties have been measured in the range from 300 to 2 K and correlated with the molecular structures. Compound 1 shows weak ferromagnetic interactions within the copper(II) dimer (J = 2.88 cm⁻¹), despite the large EO azide bridge angle (117.4 (2)°). The intramolecular coupling between the Ni^II (S = 1) ions in compound 2 was found to be ferromagnetic (J = 27.87 cm⁻¹).     

Influence of counter anions on the structures and magnetic properties of trinuclear Cu(II) complexes containing a μ3-OH core and Schiff base ligands

Four trinuclear Cu(II) complexes, [(CuL¹)₃(μ₃-OH)](NO₃)₂ (1), [(CuL²)₃(μ₃-OH)](I)₂·H₂O (2), [(CuL³)₃(μ₃-OH)](I)₂ (3) and [(CuL¹)₃(μ₃-OH)][Cu^II₃] (4), where HL¹ (8-amino-4-methyl-5-azaoct-3-en-2-one), HL² [7-amino-4-methyl-5-azaoct-3-en-2-one] and HL³ [7-amino-4-methyl-5-azahept-3-en-2-one] are the three tridentate Schiff bases, have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. All four complexes contain a partial cubane core, [(CuL)₃(μ₃-OH)]²⁺ in which the three [CuL] subunits are interconnected through two types of oxygen bridges afforded by the oxygen atoms of the ligands and the central OH⁻ group. The copper(II) ions are in a distorted square-pyramidal environment. The equatorial plane consists of the bridging oxygen of the central OH⁻ group together with three atoms (N, N, O) from the Schiff base. The oxygen atom of the Schiff base also coordinates to the axial position of Cu(II) of another subunit to form the cyclic trimer. Magnetic susceptibilities have been determined for these complexes over the temperature range of 2-300 K. The isotropic Hamiltonian, H = −J₁₂S₁S₂ − J₁₃S₁S₃ − J₂₃S₂S₃ has been used to interpret the magnetic data. The best fit parameters obtained are: J = −54.98 cm⁻¹, g = 2.24 for 1; J = −56.66 cm⁻¹, g = 2.19 for 2;J = −44.39 cm⁻¹, g = 2.16 for 3; J = −89.92 cm⁻¹, g = 2.25 for 4. The EPR data at low temperature indicate that the phenomenon of spin frustration occurs for complexes 1-3.     

Pyridyldicarboxamide-based multinuclear complexes: Syntheses, structural characterizations, and magnetic properties

Using the pyridine dicarboxamide derivative N,N′-bis(1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-2,6-pyridinedi-carboxamide (H₂-btapca) as ligand, two novel polynuclear complexes: dimeric {[Cu₂(μ₂-O₂H)(btapca)₂]·DMF·H₂O} (1) and tetrameric {[Ni₄((μ₂-O₂H)₂(btapca)₄)]·DMF·MeOH·3.5H₂O} (2) were obtained. In complex 1, two center Cu(II) ions are bounded by two btapca ligands and one aqueous molecule acting as a μ₂-H₂O bridge connect them together. Complex 2 is a tetrameric complex, in which the based backbone is an assumed Ni₄ tetrahedron with two μ₂-O₂H bridges existing inside the tetrahedron forming a basic [Ni₂(μ₂-O₂H)]₂ core, which are surrounded by four btapca ligands. The magnetic properties of the two polynuclear complexes were determined, the results show that for both of the two complexes, the overall weak ferromagnetic exchange interactions between central metal ions are evident, the best fitting parameters are: J = 7.47 cm⁻¹ (g = 2.21) for dimeric Cu(II) complex 1, and 2J₁ = 4.8 cm⁻¹, 2J₂ = −0.00204 cm⁻¹(g = 2.14, zJ′ = 0.00077 cm⁻¹) for tetrameric Ni(II) complex 2.     

A ferromagnetically coupled tetranuclear pseudo-cubane copper(II) cluster: magnetic and ESR studies

A tetranuclear copper(II) complex [Cu₄(NSI)₄] · 2C₂H₅OH · 2H₂O (NSI=hydroxethylsalicydeneimine) has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1), a=9.494(3) Å, b=18.687(5) Å, c=13.149(4) Å, β=110.162(5)°, Z=2, R₁=0.0482 and wR₂=0.0978. The crystal structure contains a tetranuclear pseudo-cubane core based on an approximately cubane array of alternating copper and oxygen atoms. Each copper atom resides in a distorted square planar coordination environment with one nitrogen and three oxygen atoms from two NSI ligands. The tetranuclear units are linked in the crystal by O-H?O hydrogen bonds and weak Cu?O co-ordination bonds into one-dimensional structure. Variable temperature (5-300 K) magnetic measurements indicate the existence of ferromagnetic interactions among copper atoms. The IR and ESR spectra have also been investigated.     

Asymmetric μ2-1,1-azido bridged copper(II) complex: Synthesis, X-ray structure, magnetic study and DFT calculations

A new rare variety asymmetric μ₂-1,1-azido bridged copper(II) complex has been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. The complex [Cu₂L₂(μ₂-1,1-N₃)₂] · H₂O · CH₃OH (L = 1-(N-ortho-hydroxyacetophenimine)-2-aminoethane) (1), crystallizes in monoclinic space group, P2₁/n, with a = 9.469(4) Å, b = 12.526(8) Å, c = 12.899(10) Å, β = 105.79(6)°, V = 1472.2(16) Å³. X-ray study reveals that he Cu-N(azide)-Cu angles in this complex is 90.4°. This is unusually low in comparison to that of the same angle in other end-on azido-bridged binuclear complexes. Though a strong ferromagnetic interaction between the metal centers is expected in the complex, the coupling has actually been found to be antiferromagnetic (J = −4.2 cm⁻¹), instead. To rationalize this paradoxical magnetic behavior, DFT calculation of this and other four complexes with very similar structure have been performed within broken symmetry framework. The calculated magnetic coupling constants (J) are in excellent agreement, both in sign and in the magnitude of the exchange interaction, with the experimental data, and the spin density map is correctly reproduced.     

Three azido-, alk/phenoxido- and acetato-bridged tetranuclear nickel complexes featuring defective double-cubane

Three new tetranuclear nickel(II) complexes of general formula [Ni₄(L)₂(N₃)₂(CH₃COO)₂(CH₃O)₂]₂·xCH₃OH·yH₂O (HL = HL¹, HL² and HL³; x = 0, y = 1 for 1; x = 2, y = 0 for 2 and x = 2, y = 4 for 3) were synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. Single crystal X-ray studies reveal that all three complexes exhibit similar tetranuclear face-shared defective double-cubane structure, having azido-, alk/phenoxido- and acetato-bridges. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on the complexes in the range of 300-2 K indicate ferromagnetic coupling between the metal ions. The slightly different magnetic behaviors observed are probably caused by subtle structural differences between the respective [Ni₄O₄N₂] cores induced by ligand variation.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a mononuclear and a ferromagnetically coupled dinuclear nickel(II) complex derived from a hexadentate Schiff base ligand

Reactions with Ni^II of a hexadentate Schiff base ligand, L, prepared from the reaction of 2-benzoylpyridine with N,N′-bis-(3-aminopropyl) ethylenediamine in the 2:1 molar ratio are reported. Mixing of this ligand with Ni(NO₃)₂ affords the mononuclear complex [NiL](NO₃)₂ (1), whereas the presence of NaN₃ in the reaction system leads to the formation of the dinuclear complex [Ni₂(L)(N₃)₄] (2). Both adducts have been characterized by X-ray crystallography revealing distorted octahedral NiN₆ coordination environments around the Ni^II centers. The dinuclear complex contains terminal and end-on bridging azido ligands and displays Ni-N-Ni bridge angles of 101.1(2)° and 101.6(2)° and an intramolecular Ni?Ni separation of 3.330(1)Å. The bridges mediate ferromagnetic magnetic exchange interactions between the Ni^II centers of 2, leading to an S = 2 ground state. Fitting of bulk magnetization data provided the coupling constant J = +20.96 cm³ K mol⁻¹ (in the H = −2JS₁ · S₂ convention for the Heisenberg Spin Hamiltonian), as well as the parameters g = 2.17, D = 0.69 cm⁻¹ and TIP = 622 × 10⁻⁶ cm³ mol⁻¹.     

Magnetic and structural studies of novel tetranickel hydroxamates

The dinickel(II) compound [Ni₂(μ-OAc)₂(OAc)₂(μ-H₂O)(asy·dmen)₂]·2.5H₂O, 1; undergoes facile reaction in a 1:2 molar ratio with benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) in ethanol to give the novel nickel(II) tetranuclear hydroxamate complex [Ni₄(μ-OAc)₃(μ-BA)₃(asy·dmen)₃][OTf]₂·H₂O, 2, in which the bridging acetates, bridging two nickel atoms in 1, undergo a carboxylate shift from the μ₂-η¹:η¹ bridging mode of binding to the μ₃-η¹:η² bridging three nickel atoms in the tetramer. The structure of complex 2 was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The two monodentate acetates, water and two bidentate bridging acetates of two moles of complex 1 are replaced by three monodentate bridging acetates and three benzohydroxamates. Three nickel atoms in the tetramer, Ni(2), Ni(3) and Ni(4) are in a N₂O₄ octahedral environment, while the fourth nickel atom Ni(1) is in an O(6) octahedral environment. The Ni-Ni separations are Ni(1)-Ni(2) = 3.108 Å, Ni(1)-Ni(3) = 3.104 Å and Ni(1)-Ni(4) = 3.110 Å, which are longer than previously studied in dinuclear urease inhibited models but shorter than in the nickel(II) tetrameric glutarohydroxamate complex [Ni₄(μ-OAc)₂(μ-gluA₂)₂(tmen)₄][OTf]₂, isolated and characterized previously in this laboratory. Magnetic studies of the tetrameric complex show that the four Ni(II) ions are ferromagnetically coupled, leading to a total ground spin state S_T = 4. Three analogous tetranuclear nickel hydroxamates were prepared from AHA and BHA and the appropriate dinuclear complex with either sy·dmen or asy·dmen as capping ligands.     

Trinuclear-based coordination compounds of Mn(II) and Co(II) with 4-amino-3,5-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazole and azide and thiocyanate anions: Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties

A 2D layer complex 1 and a linear trinuclear complex 2 with mixed ligands have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 1, the Mn(II) ions are six-coordinated and lie in distorted octahedron coordination environments. Complex 1 is connected into a 2D layer structure based on a linear trinuclear Mn₃(admtrz)₄(N₃)₆ (admtrz = 4-amino-3,5-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazole) building unit with either (6,3) topology when Mn1 cations as three-connected nodes or (4,4) network when the coordination trinuclear units being regarded as four connected nodes. In 2, the Co(II) ions are in slightly distorted octahedron coordination geometries. The magnetic behaviors are investigated in the temperature range 1.8-300 K. The magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the Mn(II) ions of complex 1 are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled with g = 1.98(1), J1 = −6.31(5) cm⁻¹ and J2 = −1.88(1) cm⁻¹. There is dominant zero field splitting (ZFS) effects with g values, g_// = 2.38(2) and g_⊥ = 4.96(4), indicated a significant presence of the spin-orbit coupling and magnetization experiment reveals large, uniaxial zero-field splitting parameters of D = −29.55 cm⁻¹ for 2.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of dinuclear nickel(II) complexes with a phenol-based dinucleating ligand with four methoxyethyl chelating arms

Dinuclear nickel(II) complexes [Ni₂(bomp)(MeCO₂)₂]BPh₄ (1) and [Ni₂(bomp)(PhCO₂)₂]BPh₄ (2) were synthesized with the dinucleating ligand 2,6-bis[bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol [H(bomp)]. X-Ray analysis revealed that the complex 1 · 0.5CHCl₃ contains two nickel(II) ions bridged by phenolic oxygen and two acetate groups, forming a μ-phenoxo-bis(μ-acetato)dinickel(II) core. Electronic spectra were investigated for 1 and 2 in the range of 400-1800 nm, and the data were typical for the octahedral high-spin nickel(II) complexes. Obtained spectral components were well simulated based on the angular overlap model assuming the trigonally distorted octahedral geometry. Magnetic susceptibility was measured for 1 and 2 over a temperature range of 4.5-300 K. The optimized magnetic data were J = 1.75 cm⁻¹, zJ′ = −0.234 cm⁻¹, g = 2.21, D = 15.1 cm⁻¹, and TIP = 370 × 10⁻⁶ cm⁻¹ for complex 1 and J = 3.55 cm⁻¹, zJ′ = −0.238 cm⁻¹, g = 2.23, D = 21.8 cm⁻¹, and TIP = 470 × 10⁻⁶ cm⁻¹ for complex 2. The data revealed ferromagnetic interactions between the two nickel(II) ions.     

Pseudohalide-bridged five-coordinate Ni(II) or Co(II) complexes with bulky bidentate ligands: Magneto-structural correlationship

Bidentate ligands 2,2′-biquinoline (biq) and 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dmbpy) with steric hindrance substituents cis to the nitrogen atoms have been used in the synthesis of transition metal complexes. Six new doubly end-on azido-bridged binuclear complexes [M₂(biq)₂(μ_1,1-N₃)₂(N₃)₂] (M = Ni (1), M = Co (2)), [M₂(biq)₂(μ_1,1-N₃)₂Cl₂] (M = Ni (3), M = Co (4)), [M₂(dmbpy)₂(μ_1,1-N₃)₂(N₃)₂] (M = Ni (5), M = Co (6)) and one end-to-end thiocyanato-bridged polymeric [Ni(dmbpy)(μ_1,3-SCN)(NCS)]_n (7) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and magnetic studies. Complexes 1-6 comprise five-coordinate M(II) ions bridged by two end-on azide ligands. The bridging M-N-M bond angles are in the small range 104.1-105.2°. Complex 7 consists of a singly thiocyanate-bridged Ni(II) chain in which Ni(II) ions are five-coordinate. This research suggests that the bulky ligands play a key role in the formation of five-coordinate coordination structure. All complexes display intramolecular intermetallic ferromagnetic coupling with J_NiNi and J_CoCo of ca. 23 or 13 cm⁻¹ based on the Hamiltonian (S₁ = S₂ = 1 for Ni₂, or 3/2 for Co₂). The singly SCN⁻-bridged chainlike complex 7 shows intrachain ferromagnetic interaction with J = 3.96(2) cm⁻¹ and D = −4.55(8) cm⁻¹ (. Magneto-structural correlationship has been investigated.     

Anion directed template synthesis of Cu(II) complexes of a N,N,O donor mono-condensed Schiff base ligand: A molecular scaffold forming highly ordered H-bonded rectangular grids

Anion directed, template syntheses of two dinuclear copper(II) complexes of mono-condensed Schiff base ligand Hdipn (4-[(3-aminopentylimino)-methyl]-benzene-1,3-diol) involving 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 1,3-diaminopentane were realized in the presence of bridging azide and acetate anions. Both complexes, [Cu₂(dipn)₂(N₃)₂] (1) and [Cu₂(dipn)₂(OAc)₂] (2) have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The two mononuclear units are joined together by basal-apical, double end-on azido bridges in complex 1 and by basal-apical, double mono-atomic acetate oxygen-bridges in 2. Both complexes form rectangular grid-like supramolecular structures via H-bonds connecting the azide or acetate anion and the p-hydroxy group of 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. Variable-temperature (300-2 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that complex 1 has antiferromagnetic coupling (J = −2.10 cm⁻¹) through the azide bridge while 2 has intra-dimer ferromagnetic coupling through the acetate bridge and inter-dimer antiferromagnetic coupling through H-bonds (J = 2.85 cm⁻¹, J′ = −1.08 cm⁻¹).     

An antiferromagnetically coupled trinuclear Cu(II) complex containing μ(O,O′), μ(O) carboxylates and μ(O) phenoxide bridges

The trinuclear complex [L₂Cu₃(CF₃CO₂)₄] (1) has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined. It consists of a linear arrangement of Cu(II) centers. The central copper atom is bonded to six oxygen atoms and has a tetragonally distorted octahedral geometry, while the terminal copper atoms are bonded to three oxygen and two nitrogen atoms and show a distorted square pyramidal geometry. The complex shows di-μ(O,O′) syn-syn carboxylate bridging as well as monoatomic (μ-O) bridging, along with phenolate (μ-O) oxygen bridging. Cryomagnetic investigations in the range 2-300 K revealed an antiferromagnetic spin exchange interaction with J = −95.7 cm⁻¹, based on the isotropic exchange model H_ex = −2J[S₁ · S₂ + S₂ · S₃].     

Synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties of dicopper(II) and dinickel(II) complexes with a new bis(macrocycle), 7,7-(2-hydoxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis{3,7,11,17-tetraazabicyclo[11.3.1]- heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene}

A new bis(macrocycle) ligand, 7,7^′-(2-hydoxypropane-1,3-diyl)-bis{3,7,11,17-tetraazabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene} (HL), and its dicopper(II) ([Cu₂(HL)Cl₂](NO₃)₂ · 4H₂O (4a), [Cu₂(HL)I₂]I₂ · H₂O (4b)) and dinickel(II) ([Ni₂(L)(OH₂)](ClO₄)₃ (5a), [Ni₂(L)(OH₂)]I₃ · 2H₂O (5b), [Ni₂(L)N₃](N₃)₂ · 7H₂O (5c)) complexes have been synthesized. The alkoxide bridged face-to-face structure of the dinickel(II) complex 5c has been revealed by X-ray crystallography, as well as the “half-opened clamshell” form of the bis(macrocyclic) dicopper(II) complex 4b. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies have indicated that there exists intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling (J=−33.8 cm⁻¹ (5a), −32.5 cm⁻¹ (5b), and −29.7 cm⁻¹ (5c)) between the two nickel(II) ions in the nickel(II) complexes.     

Structure and magnetic properties of a tetranuclear Cu(II) complex containing the 2-(pyridine-2-yliminomethyl)-phenol ligand

A tetranuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu₄L₄(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₄ has been synthesized using the terdentate Schiff base 2-(pyridine-2-yliminomethyl)-phenol (HL) (the condensation product of salicylaldehyde and 2-aminopyridine) and copper perchlorate. Chemical characterizations such as IR and UV/Vis of the complex have been carried out. A single-crystal diffraction study shows that the complex contains a nearly planar tetranuclear core containing four copper atoms, which occupy four equivalent five-coordinate sites with a square pyramidal environment. Magnetic measurements have been carried out over the temperature range 2-300 K and with 100 Oe field strengths. Analysis of magnetic susceptibility data indicates a strong antiferromagnetic (J₁ = −638 cm⁻¹) exchange interaction between diphenoxo-bridged Cu(II) centers and a moderate antiferromagnetic (J₂ = −34 cm⁻¹) interaction between N-C-N bridged Cu(II) centers. Magnetic exchange interactions (J’s) are also discussed on the basis of a computational study using DFT methodology. The spin density distribution (singlet ground state) is calculated to visualize the effect of delocalization of spin density through bridging groups.     

Formation of a supramolecular ladder using dinuclear dicyanamide bridged Cu(II) species: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic property

The reaction of Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with bis(3-aminopropyl)methylamine and sodium dicyanamide in aqueous medium results in the formation of a dimeric dicyanamide complex of Cu(II), [Cu₂(medpt)₂(dca)₂](ClO₄)₂. The single crystal X-ray structure reveals that the dinuclear entities are extended to form a supramolecular 1D ladder by H-bonding. Each dinuclear entity is joined to the adjacent unit via the perchlorate anion. Variable temperature magnetic study was performed and the best-fit parameters are J = −1.20 ± 0.02 cm⁻¹, g = 2.08 ± 0.01 with R = 2 × 10⁻⁵. These clearly indicate the antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) center.     

A new tetranuclear copper(II) complex with oximate bridges: Structure, magnetic properties and DFT study

A new tetranuclear complex, [Cu₄L₄](ClO₄)₄·2H₂O (1), has been synthesized from the self-assembly of copper(II) perchlorate and the tridentate Schiff base ligand (2E,3E)-3-(2-aminopropylimino) butan-2-one oxime (HL). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that complex 1 consists of a Cu₄(NO)₄ core where the four copper(II) centers having square pyramidal environment are arranged in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. They are linked together by a rare bridging mode (μ₃-η¹,η²,η¹) of oximato ligands. Analysis of magnetic susceptibility data indicates moderate antiferromagnetic (J₁ = −48 cm⁻¹, J₂ = −40 cm⁻¹ and J₃ = −52 cm⁻¹) exchange interaction through σ-superexchange pathways (in-plane bridging) of the oxime group. Theoretical calculations based on DFT technique have been used to obtain the energy states of different spin configurations and estimate the coupling constants and to understand the exact magnetic exchange pathways.     

Double complex salts of Pt and Pd ammines with Zn and Ni oxalates - promising precursors of nanosized alloys

Double complex salts [M(NH₃)₄][M′(Ox)₂(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O (M = Pd, Pt, M′ = Ni, Zn) were synthesized by combination of solutions containing corresponding cations [M(NH₃)₄]²⁺ and anions [M′(Ox)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁻. The salts obtained were characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The prepared compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group I222, Z = 2). Thermal decomposition of the salts in helium or hydrogen atmosphere at 200-400 °C results in formation of nano-sized bimetallic powders. Depending on the phase diagram of the respective bimetallic system and temperature conditions, they can be single phase or multiphase products. In particular, thermal decomposition of double complex salts [M(NH₃)₄][Zn(Ox)₂(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O (M = Pd, Pt) results in formation of PdZn and PtZn intermetallic compounds, correspondingly. Decomposition of [Pd(NH₃)₄][Ni(Ox)₂(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O affords a disordered solid solution Pd_0.5Ni_0.5. Disordered Pt_0.5Ni_0.5 was obtained from [Pt(NH₃)₄][Ni(Ox)₂(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O in helium atmosphere, while in hydrogen atmosphere - a two-phase mixture of disordered Pt_0.5Ni_0.5 and ordered PtNi. In all cases crystallite sizes of bimetallic particles varied within 50-250 Å.