Reactions of chromium(III) complexes with ferricyanide. Magnetism of K2[Cr(salen)(H2O)][Fe(CN)6]·H2O and the crystal structure of [trans-Cr(tn)2Cl2]3[Fe(CN)6]·6H2O [salen2− = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato) dianion,tn = 1,3-diaminopropane]

Two Cr^III–Fe^III complexes, K₂[Cr(salen)(H₂O)][Fe(CN)₆]·H₂O (1) and [trans-Cr(tn)₂Cl₂]₃[Fe(CN)₆]·6H₂O (2), have been prepared. Crystal structure determination shows that complex (2) possesses an ionic salt structure. General physical measurements and magnetic studies indicate that (1) assumes a cyanide-bridged dinuclear structure, and that the Cr^III–Fe^III magnetic coupling through the cyanide bridge is antiferromagnetic, which can be rationalized by the overlap of magnetic orbitals of the same symmetry.