Structure and magnetism of heptanuclear complexes formed on encapsulation of hexacyanoferrate(II) with the Mn(II) and Ni(II) complexes of 1,4-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane

The reaction of [Mn(dmptacn)OH(2)](2+) and [Ni(dmptacn)OH(2)](2+) (dmptacn = 1,4-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) with each cyano ligand on ferricyanide results in the assembly of heteropolynuclear cations around the cyanometalate core and reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II). In [[Mn(dmptacn)CN](6)Fe][ClO(4)](8) x 5H(2)O (1) and [[Ni(dmptacn)CN](6)Fe][ClO(4)](8) x 7H(2)O (2), ferrocyanide is encapsulated by either six Mn(II) or Ni(II) dmptacn moieties. These same products are obtained when ferrocyanide salts are used in the synthesis instead of ferricyanide. A binuclear complex, [[Mn(dmptacn)](2)CN][ClO(4)](3) (3), has also been formed from KCN and [Mn(dmptacn)OH(2)](2+). For both Mn(II) and Ni(II), the use of the pentadentate dmptacn ligand facilitates the formation of discrete cations in preference to networks or polymeric structures. 1 crystallizes in the trigonal space group R3 macro (No. 148) with a = 30.073(3) A, c = 13.303(4) A, and Z = 3 and is composed of heptanuclear [[Mn(dmptacn)CN](6)Fe](8+) cations whose charge is balanced by perchlorate counteranions. Weak H-bonding interactions between neighboring heptanuclear cations and some perchlorate counterions generate an infinite 1D chain of alternating [[Mn(dmptacn)CN](6)Fe](8+) and ClO(4)(-) ions running along the c-axis. Complex 3 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn (No. 60) with a = 16.225(3) A, b = 16.320(2) A, c = 18.052(3) A, and Z = 8 and is composed of binuclear [[Mn(dmptacn)](2)CN](3+) cations in which the cyano-bridged Mn(II) centers are in a distorted trigonal prismatic geometry. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements have revealed the presence of a weak ferromagnetic interaction between the paramagnetic Mn(II) centers in 1, mediated either by the -NC-Fe-CN- bridging units or by Mn-NH...ClO(4-)...NH-Mn intercluster pathways.