Heteronuclear Ni(ii)-Ln(iii) (Ln = La, Pr, Tb, Dy) complexes: synthesis and single-molecule magnet behaviour

The reaction of hydrated nickel(II) salts (chloride or nitrate) and hydrated lanthanide nitrate salts with the Schiff base ligand 2-methoxy-6-[(E)-phenyliminomethyl] phenol (HL) in methanol resulted in the isolation of three isostructural linear heterometallic trinuclear complexes and a heterometallic tetranuclear complex. The molecular structures of these complexes were determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction revealing molecular structures of formulae [Ni2La(L-)6](NO3)0.55(OH)0.45 (1), [Ni2Pr(L-)6](NO3)0.48(OH)0.52 (2), [Ni2Tb(L-)6](NO3)0.5(Cl)0.5 (3) and [Ni2Dy2(L-2(o-vanillin)2(CO3)2(NO3)2(MeOH)2] (4). Structural analysis for 1-3 reveals that the lanthanide ion is sandwiched between two Ni(II) ions and the Ni⋯Ln⋯Ni metallic core displays a linear arrangement, with an average ∠Ni⋯Ln⋯Ni bond angle of 179.7°. Analysis of 4 reveals the metal ions are arranged such that two Ni-Dy subunits are bridged by two carbonate ligands via the Dy sites. Direct current magnetic susceptibility measurements for complexes 1-4 reveal that the Ni(II) ions are coupled ferromagnetically with the Tb(III) (3) and Dy(III) (4) ions, and antiferromagnetically with the Pr(III) ion (2). For complex 1 a long range intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction is witnessed between the Ni(II) ions (Ni⋯Ni = 6.873(9) Å) via a closed shell La(III) ion. The magnetic data of 1 were fitted using the HDVV Hamiltonian revealing the following parameters; J = +0.46 cm(-1), g = 2.245, D = +4.91 cm(-1). Alternating current magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on complexes 2-4 revealed that 3 and 4 displayed frequency dependent χ′′M signals (Hac = 3.5 Oe and Hdc = 0 Oe) which is a characteristic signature of a single-molecule magnet behaviour.