Magnetic characterization, synthesis and crystal structure of a heterodinuclear CuGd Schiff base complex bridged by the two phenolic oxygen atoms

A novel heterodinuclear complex formed by the reaction of gadolinium nitrate with Schiff base complex of copper(II) has been synthesized and characterized. Preparation, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the heterodinuclear complex, LCu(Me₂CO)Gd(NO₃)₃, (L=(N,N′-bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzylidene)-1,3-diaminopropane) are reported. The complex is consisting of a deca-coordinated Gd^III ion which is bridged to four coordinated Cu^II via both phenolate oxygen atoms of the L Schiff base ligand. The average CuGd separation is 3.475(2) Å. There is also one non-coordinating acetone molecule in the crystal structure. The magnetic susceptibility of the complex was measured over the range 4.5–350 K and the observed data were successfully simulated by the equation based on the spin-Hamiltonian operator H=−JS_Cu·S_Gd. The values of the intrachain interaction parameters have been deduced from the magnetic data: exchange integral J(Cu–Gd)=7.3 cm⁻¹, g_Cu=2.17, g_Gd=2.09. This indicates a weak ferromagnetic spin exchange interaction between Cu^II and Gd^III ions. The nature of the magnetic super-exchange interaction of the title compound is compared with similar Cu^IIGd^III heterodinuclear complexes.