Topological ferrimagnetic behavior of two new [Mn(L)2(N3)2]n chains with the new AF/AF/F alternating sequence (L = 3-methylpyridine or 3,4-dimethylpyridine)

The reaction of manganese(II) and pyridine derivatives such as 3-methylpyridine (3-Mepy) and 3,4-dimethylpyridine (3,4-Dmepy) led to the new one-dimensional systems trans-Mn(3-Mepy)2(N3)2]n (1) and trans-Mn(3,4-Dmepy)2(N3)2]n (2). Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, a = 11.201(3) A, b = 14.499(4) A, c = 14.308(4) A, Z = 6, and compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, a = 11.502(4) A, b = 14.246(5) A, c = 16.200(8) A, Z = 6. The two compounds show the same general one-dimensional arrangement of double azido bridges between neighboring manganese atoms with the unprecedented -Mn-(mu(1,3)-N3)2-Mn-(mu(1,3)-N3)2-Mn-(mu(1,1)-N3)2-Mn- sequence. Susceptibility and magnetization measurements reveal a ferrimagnetic-like behavior derived from the topology of the chain. A model of the Heisenberg chain, comprising classical spins coupled through alternating exchange interactions J1J1J2... is proposed to describe the magnetic behavior.