A new family of heterometallic [Cu6M4] (M = Gd, Tb, Dy and Y) clusters derived from the combined use of selected pyridyl poly-alcohol ligands

Abstract

The combined use of 2-(2-pyridyl)-1,3-propane-diol (pypdH₂) and 2-hydroxymethyl-2-(2-pyridyl)-1,3-propane-diol (pyptH₃) in Cu²⁺/4f chemistry has afforded a new family of isostructural [Cu₆M₄(pypt)₄(pypdH)₄(NO₃)₈] [M = Gd (1), Tb (2), Dy (3), and Y (4)] complexes. These compounds are based on an unprecedented three-layered symmetric [Cu₆M₄(μ-OR)₁₆]⁸⁺ structural core, formed from the connection of the metal ions by bridging alkoxide arms of the organic ligands. Direct current magnetic susceptibility studies for complexes 1–3 revealed the presence of dominant ferromagnetic exchange interactions, suggesting the existence of large spin ground state values. Alternating current magnetic studies indicate the presence of slow-magnetic relaxation in 1–3.