New Nanostructured Materials: Synthesis of Dodecanuclear NiII Complexes and Surface Deposition Studies

Microwave‐assisted synthesis has been used to obtain the family of dodecanuclear Ni^II complexes [Ni₁₂(NO₃)(MeO)₁₂(MeC₆H₄CO₂)₉(MeOH)₁₀(H₂O)₂][ClO₄]₂ ( 1 ), [Ni₁₂(NO₃)(MeO)₁₂(BrC₆H₄CO₂)₉(MeOH)₁₀(H₂O)₂][ClO₄]₂ ( 2 ), [Ni₁₂(CO₃)(MeO)₁₂(MeC₆H₄CO₂)₉(MeOH)₁₀(H₂O)₂]₂[SO₄] ( 3 ) and [Ni₁₂(NO₃)(MeO)₁₂(MeC₆H₄CO₂)₉(MeOH)₈(H₂O)₇][NO₃]₂ ( 4 ). They contain three {Ni₄O₄} cubane units which template around a central μ₆ anion, either NO₃^? or CO₃^2?. Their magnetic properties have been studied by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry and high‐field EPR measurements. The nanostructuration of the Ni₁₂ species on mica surfaces is studied by AFM and grazing‐incidence X‐ray diffraction, which reveal the formation of polycrystalline thin layers.