Linear trichromium complexes with direct Cr to Cr contacts. 2. Compounds with Cr3(dipyridylamide)4(3+) cores

Seven compounds having in common a Cr3(dpa)4(3+) core (dpa = di(2-pyridyl)amide ion) have been prepared and all shown to have an unsymmetrical chain of three Cr atoms. This chain can be described as a pair of quadruply bonded Cr(II) atoms to which a Cr(III) atom is attached. No symmetrical chain has been found, contrary to a previous preliminary report. The seven compounds have been well characterized crystallographically, and their short and long Cr to Cr distances (A, in parentheses) are: 1 [Cr3(dpa)4Cl2]Cl.2CH2Cl2.THF (2.12, 2.47), 2 [Cr3(dpa)4Cl2]AlCl4.CH2Cl2 (2.011, 2.555), 3 [Cr3(dpa)4Cl2]FeCl4.CH2Cl2 (2.009, 2.562), 4 [Cr3(dpa)4Cl2]I3.THF.2H2O (2.08, 2.49), 5 [Cr3(dpa)4Cl2]PF6.2CH2Cl2 (2.08, 2.48), 6 [Cr3(dpa)4(BF4)F]BF4.2CH2Cl2 (1.900, 2.595), 7 [Cr3(dpa)4ClF]BF4.CH2Cl2.C6H14 (2.039, 2.507). Magnetic susceptibility measurements on 1 and 2 reveal mueff = 3.85 +/- 0.05 muB from 10 to 300 K.