New examples of hetero-tri-metallic complexes CuII-LnIII-MIII (M = Cr, Fe; Ln = Gd, Dy, Er): Synthesis, structures and magnetic properties

Four hetero-tri-metallic complexes, {[Cu(L)Gd(H2O)4][Cr(CN)(6)])(2)center dot CH3OH center dot 7H(2)O (1), {[Cu(L)DY(H2O)(4)][Cr (CN)(6)]}(2)center dot CH3OH center dot 7H(2)O (2), {[Cu(L)Gd(H2O)(4)][Fe(CN)(6)]}(2)center dot CH3OH center dot 9H(2)O (3) and [Cu(L)Er(H2O)(4)][Fe(CN)(6)]center dot CH3OH center dot 6H(2)O (4) (L=N,N'-ethylenebis(3-methoxy salicylideneiminato) dianion) were synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Among these complexes, the [Cu(L)Ln] subunits are further coordinated by hexacyanometallate anions, leading to the trinuclear CuLnM and hexanuclear [CuLnM](2) (M = Cr, Fe) clusters. The magnetic investigation reveals that the intramolecular ferro-and antiferromagnetic coupling coexists in these complexes, which could be rationalized considering their structures. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.