N(CH3)4]2[Mn(H2O)]3[Mo(CN)7](2).2H2O: a new high Tc cyano-bridged ferrimagnet based on the [MoIII(CN)7]4- building block and induced by counterion exchange

The title compound was synthesized by slow diffusion of aqueous solutions containing K4[Mo(CN)7].2H2O, [Mn(H2O)6](NO3)2, and [N(CH3)4]Cl. The compound crystallized in monoclinic space group C2/c, a = 25.8546(14), b = 12.3906(7), c = 13.5382(7) A, beta = 116.4170 (10) degrees, Z = 4, R = 0.0353, wR2 = 0.0456. The MoIII site is surrounded by six -C-N-Mn linkages and one terminal cyano group in a distorted capped-prism fashion. There are two pentahedral MnII sites in the structure, both with four -N-C-Mo linkages and one water molecule. The anisotropic three-dimensional structure consists of connected corrugated gridlike sheet layers parallel to the bc plane. Tetramethylammonium counterions ([N(CH3)4]+) located between these layers seem to induce their distortion. The three-dimensional organization may also be viewed as interconnected octagonal channels propagated along the c axis. The void space of these channels is occupied by coordinated and crystalized water molecules. Temperature and field dependence of the magnetization in both the dc and ac modes have been measured on polycrystalline sample. These investigations have revealed that the compound ordered ferrimagnetically at Tc = 86 K, with a small hysteresis effect. These findings have been compared to those reported previously for three- and two-dimensional materials of the same family.