The first non-acetato members of the bis(anion)octacarboxylatotetrakis{di-2-pyridyl-methanediolate(−2)}enneametal(II) family of complexes: Synthesis, X-ray structures and magnetism of [M9(N3)2(O2CCMe3)8{(py)2CO2}4] (M = Co, Ni)

The combined use of di-2-pyridyl ketone [(py)₂CO] and azides (N₃⁻) in nickel(II) and cobalt(II) pivalate chemistry has afforded complexes [Ni₉(N₃)₂(O₂CCMe₃)₈{(py)₂CO₂}₄] (1) and [Co₉(N₃)₂(O₂CCMe₃)₈{(py)₂CO₂}₄] (2), where (py)₂CO₂²⁻ is the gem-diolate(−2) form of (py)₂CO. The complexes are isostructural and crystallize in the monoclinic P2₁/c space group. Their molecular structures consist of nine metal(II) ions, eight of which are arranged as two parallel squares flanking the ninth. DC magnetic susceptometry on powdered samples of 1 (1-p) reveal an overall antiferromagnetic behavior, leading to an S = 0 ground state. AC susceptometry reveals out-of-phase signals between 10 and 27 K, and ZFC and FC experiments show a divergence of the two curves below ∼27 K. Magnetization-decay and field-sweep experiments verify the relaxation behavior of the sample. Samples of the complex arising from carefully washed single crystals (1-cr) reveal a similar DC behavior, without however the appearance of cusps in the χ_ΜΤ versus T curves, and no relaxation. The relaxation behavior has been assigned to NiO impurities. The results illustrate the extreme care that should be taken when examining the magnetic properties of apparently analytically pure materials obtained under heating. Complex 2 exhibits an overall antiferromagnetic behavior, without observation of any relaxation phenomena.     

The gem-Diol Form of (py)2CO as a Ligand in Cobalt(II) Carboxylate Clusters: A Cubane Complex and a Novel Nonanuclear Species with a Vertex-Sharing Double Square Pyramidal Structure

A vertex-sharing double square pyramid of cobalt(II ) ions (see picture) is present in the nonanuclear complex 1 , obtained by treating cobalt acetate with 0.5 equivalents of (py₂)CO. The corresponding 1:1 reaction gave 2 , which has a central core with a cubane structure. py=pyridine.