Heterometallic clusters arising from cubic Ni3M′O4 (M′ = K and Na) entity: Solvothermal synthesis with/without the assistance of microwave

Solvothermal reaction assisted with microwave leads to the formation of two unique heterometallic cubic clusters [Ni3M'(L)(3)(OH)(CH3CN)(3)](2)center dot center dot center dot CH3CN (M' = K for 1 and M' = Na for 2, where L is an anion of 2-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-amino]-ethanesulfonate) with higher efficiency, yields and purity than those without it. The 6-metallacrown-3 [Ni-3(OH)(L)(3)](-) groups exhibit interesting ion trapping and self-assembly of size-different Na+ and K+ through form recognition and coordination activity in 1 and 2. The magnetic studies for 1 and 2 suggest that the {Ni3M'O-4} (M' = K and Na) cores both display dominant ferromagnetic interactions from the nature of the binding modes of mu(3)-O (oxidophenyl) and mu(3)-OH. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.