Synthesis,structure, and magnetic properties of heterotrimetallic tetranuclear complexes

Two novel heterotrimetallic tetranuclear complexes [Cu(H₂L)(CH₃OH)]₂Gd(DMF)Fe(CN)₆·2H₂O·DMF (1) and [Cu(H₂L)(CH₃OH)]₂Tb(H₂O)_0.57(DMF)_0.43Fe(CN)₆·5.5H₂O (2) are reported (H₄L = N,N′-ethylenebis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)). The central Ln(III) ion is surrounded by two neutral [Cu(H₂L)(CH₃OH)] moieties, forming a Cu₂Ln trinuclear unit. The [Fe(CN)₆]^3? anion is weakly coordinated to one Cu(II) ion of [Cu(H₂L)(CH₃OH)] through a cyanide nitrogen atom with the N–Cu distance of ca. 3.2 Å. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate the presence of overall ferromagnetic interactions in complexes 1 and 2. The magnetic coupling constant in complex 1 is J _Cu1Gd1 = 4.54 cm^?1 and J _Cu2Gd1 = 7.97 cm^?1 based on ( hat{H} = - 2J_{text{Cu1Gd1}} hat{S}_{text{Cu1Gd1}} - 2J_{text{Cu2Gd1}} hat{S}_{text{Cu2Gd1}} ) . Dynamic AC magnetic susceptibility studies reveal that complex 2 shows frequency-dependent out-of-phase signals, typical of single molecule magnet behavior. The energy barrier for complex 2 under a 2 kOe applied DC magnetic field is 13 K.