title: Homo- and heterometallic planes, chains and cubanes.
abstract: The synthesis, structural and magnetic characterisation of a family of homo- and heterometallic complexes constructed with the Schiff base ligands 2-iminomethyl-6-methoxy-phenol (L1H) and 2-imino-6-methoxy-phenol (L2H), are discussed. Members include the heterometallic tetranuclear complexes of general formula [Na2M2(X)2(L1)4(Y)2] (where M = Fe(III), X = (-)OMe, Y = NO3(-) (1) and M = Ni(II), X = N3(-) and Y = MeCN (2)), each possessing a butterfly-like topology. We also report the formation of the heterometallic molecular cage [Na3Ni2(L1)6](ClO4) (3) whose metallic skeleton describes a [rare] trigonal bipyramid, the homometallic 1-D coordination polymer [Mn(L1)2(Cl)]n (4), and the tetranuclear cubane clusters [Mn(III)3Mn(IV)(O)3(OEt)(OAc)3(L1)3] (5) and [Ni4(μ3-OMe)4(L2)4(MeOH)4] (6). Dc and ac magnetic susceptibility studies on complexes 5 and 6 reveal S = 9/2 and S = 4 spin ground states.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Seán T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Meally
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Euan K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Brechin
authors.forename: Stergios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piligkos
authors.forename: Leigh F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jones