Dimers and chains of {3d-4f} single molecule magnets constructed from heterobimetallic tectons

A tetranuclear complex and a 1-D coordination polymer with a ladder-like topology have been obtained by connecting [Ni(II)Dy(III)] nodes with dicarboxylato ligands: [Ni?(valpn)?Dy?(III)(pdca)?(NO?)(H?O)?](NO?)·4H?O 1, and (∞)1[Ni?(H?O)?(valpn)?Dy?(tfa)?]·4CH?CN 2 (valpn2? = the dianion of the Schiff base resulting from reacting o-vanillin with 1,3-propanediamine; pdca2? = the dianion of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid; tfa2? = the dianion of the terephthalic acid). The magnetic measurements show a ferromagnetic interaction between Ni(II) and Dy(III), and that both compounds behave like SMM with strong tunnelling. The barrier of 2 (17.4 K) is higher than that of 1 (13.6 K).