Heterotrimetallic oxalato-bridged ReIV2MII complexes (M=Mn, Co, Ni, Cu): synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

The use of the (NBu4)2ReIVCl4(ox)] mononuclear species as a ligand toward divalent first row transition metal ions in the presence of imidazole affords the new trinuclear compounds of formula (NBu4)2{ReIVCl4(mu-ox)}2MII(Him)2] NBu4+=tetra-n-butylammonium cation, ox=oxalate dianion, Him=imidazole; M=Mn (1), Co (2), Ni (3), Cu (4)] whose preparation, crystal structures, and magnetic properties are reported. 1-4 are isostructural complexes which are made up of discrete trinuclear {ReIVCl4(mu-ox)}2MII(Him)2]2- anions and bulky NBu4+ cations. The Re and M atoms exhibit somewhat distorted octahedral surroundings which are built by four chloro and two oxalate oxygens (Re) and two imidazole nitrogen and four oxalate oxygen atoms (M), the central M atom being linked to the two peripheral Re atoms through bis-bidentate oxalate. The values of the Re...M separation across bridging oxalate vary in the range 5.646(2) (M=Ni) to 5.794(2) A (M=Mn). Magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1-4 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K show the occurrence of significant intramolecular antiferro- (1) and ferromagnetic (2-4) interactions. The nature and magnitude of the magnetic coupling in 1-4 are qualitatively understood through orbital symmetry considerations.