Redox shield enfolding a magnetic core

Ferrocenyl betadiketones were reacted with hydrated lanthanide trihalides in presence of a base to yield red color solids, whose structures were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Structural analysis revealed the formation of nona- and tetranuclear lanthanide oxo-hydroxo clusters [DY9(mu(4)-O)(2)(mu(3)-OH)(8)(mu Fca)(8)(Fca)(8)](-)[HN(C2H5)3](+) (1), [Ln(4)(mu-OH)(2)(mu-OCH3)(4)(CH3OH)(2)(Fctfa)(6)] Ln = Yb (2), Lu (3), and [Ln(4)(mu-OH)(2)(mu-OCH3)(4)(CH3OH)(2)(Fcpfa)(6)] Ln = Yb (4), Lu (5). Magnetism studies revealed that 1 shows slow relaxation of magnetisation. Cyclic voltammetry studies of 1 reveal electrochemically stable quasi reversible oxidation systems whereas 2-5 showed irreversible nature. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.