Subrata Naiya

A unique example of structural and magnetic diversity in four interconvertible copper(II)-azide complexes with the same schiff base ligand: a monomer, a dimer, a chain, and a layer.

Four new Cu(II)-azido complexes of formula [CuL(N(3))] (1), [CuL(N(3))](2) (2), [Cu(7)L(2)(N(3))(12)](n) (3), and [Cu(2)L(dmen)(N(3))(3)](n) (4) (dmen = N,N-dimethylethylenediamine) have been synthesized using the same tridentate Schiff base ligand HL (2-[1-(2-dimethylaminoethylimino)ethyl]phenol, the condensation product of dmen and 2-hydroxyacetophenone). The four compounds have been characterized by X-ray structural analyses and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. Complex 1 is mononuclear, whereas 2 is a single mu-1,1 azido-bridged dinuclear compound. The polymeric compound 3 possesses a 2D structure in which the Cu(II) ions are linked by phenoxo oxygen atoms and two different azide bridges (mu-1,1 and mu-1,1,3). The structure of complex 4 is a double helix in which two mu-1,3-azido-bridged alternating one-dimensional helical chains of CuL(N(3)) and Cu(dmen)(N(3))(2) are joined together by weak mu-1,1 azido bridges and H-bonds. The complexes interconvert in solution and can be obtained in pure form by carefully controlling the conditions. The magnetic properties of compounds 1 and 2 show the presence of very weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions mediated by a ligand pi overlap (J = -1.77) and by an asymmetric 1,1-N(3) bridge (J = -1.97 cm(-1)), respectively. Compound 3 presents, from the magnetic point of view, a decorated chain structure with both ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions. Compound 4 is an alternating helicoidal chain with two weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions (J = -1.35 and -2.64 cm(-1)).

A Ferromagnetic Methoxido-Bridged Mn(III) Dimer and a Spin-Canted Metamagnetic μ1,3-Azido-Bridged Chain

Two new Mn(III) complexes of formulas [MnL(1)(N(3))(OMe)](2) (1) and [MnL(2)(N(3))(2)](n) (2) have been synthesized by using two tridentate NNO-donor Schiff base ligands HL(1){(2-[(3-methylaminoethylimino)-methyl]-phenol)} and HL(2) {(2-[1-(2-dimethylaminoethylimino)methyl]phenol)}, respectively. Substitution of the H atom on the secondary amine group of the N-methyldiamine fragment of the Schiff base by a methyl group leads to a drastic structural change from a methoxido-bridged dimer (1) to a single μ(1,3)-azido-bridged 1D helical polymer (2). Both complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structural analyses and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. The magnetic properties of compound 1 show the presence of weak ferromagnetic exchange interactions mediated by double methoxido bridges (J = 0.95 cm(-1)). Compound 2 shows the existence of a weak antiferromangetic coupling along the chain (J = -8.5 cm(-1)) through the single μ(1,3)-N(3) bridge with a spin canting that leads to a long-range antiferromagnetic order at T(c) ≈ 9.3 K and a canting leading to a weak ferromagnetic long-range order at T(c) ≈ 8.5 K. It also exibits metamagnetic behavior at low temperatures with a critical field of ca.1.2 T due to the weak antiferromagnetic interchain interactions that appear in the canted ordered phase.