Synthesis, Structures, and Magnetic Properties of Three Decanuclear Ln2Cu8 Clusters of Alkylsulfonate

Three isomorphic decanuclear heterometallic 3d-4f Ln(2)Cu(8) clusters, formulated as [Ln(2)Cu(8)(mu(2)-OH)(2)(mu(3)-OH)(2)(ClO4)(2)(HTMHSA)(4)(H2O)(10)]center dot 15H(2)O (Ln = La (1, LA(2)Cu(8)); Ln = Gd (2, Gd2Cu8); Ln = Dy (3, Dy2Cu8), H(5)TMHSA = 3-[N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]-2-hydroxyprop-anesulfonic acid), were obtained through the reaction of H(5)TMHSA, Ln(ClO4)(3), and Cu(NO3)(2)center dot 3H(2)O. The present three Ln(2)Cu(8) compounds are rare examples of alkylsulfonate-based plynuclear 3d-4f clusters. Magnetic studies indicate that the cluster La2Cu8 exhibits antiferromagentic behavior, Gd2Cu8 displays ferromagnetic behavior and a large magnetocaloric effect at low temperature, while Dy2Cu8 shows slow magnetic relaxation.