Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of [(S)-[PhCH(CH3)N(CH3)3]][Mn(CH3CN)2/3Cr(OX)3]•(CH3CN)_(solvate), a 2D chiral magnet containing a quaternary ammonium chiral cation

The synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of a novel oxalate-based bimetallic magnet obtained by using the chiral (S)-trimethyl-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-ammonium, ((S)-[PhCH(CH3)N(CH3)(3)](+)), cation as template is reported. This compound can be formulated as [(S)-[PhCH(CH3)N(CH3)(3)]][Mn(CH3CN)(2/3)Cr(ox)(3)]center dot(CH3CN)_(solvate), and it crystallizes in the chiral trigonal space group P3. It shows a distorted two-dimensional honeycomb structure formed by Mn-II and Cr-III ions connected through oxalate anions with [(S)-[PhCH(CH3)N(CH3)(3)](+) cations and solvent molecules intercalated between the oxalate layers. Two-thirds of the Mn-II ions of the honeycomb anionic network are heptacoordinated. This compound behaves as a soft ferromagnet with an ordering temperature of 5.6 K.