Ferromagnetism and chirality in two-dimensional cyanide-bridged bimetallic compounds

The combination of hexacyanoferrate(III) anions, [Fe(CN)(6)](3-), with nickel(II) complexes derived from the chiral ligand trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (trans-chxn) affords the enantiopure layered compounds [Ni(trans-(1S,2S)-chxn)(2)](3)[Fe(CN)(6)](2).2H(2)O (1) and [Ni-(trans-(1R,2R)- chxn)(2)](3)[Fe(CN)(6)](2).2H(2)O (2). These chiral systems behave as ferromagnets (T-c = 13.8 K) with a relatively high coercive field (H-c = 0.17 T) at 2 K. They also exhibit an unusual magnetic behavior at low temperatures that has been attributed to the dynamics of the magnetic domains in the ordered phase.