Fine tuning of the coordination environments and magnetic properties of first row transition metal ions with 5-methylisophthalate and 2,2′-bipyridine/phenanthroline

Twelve coordination compounds of Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+, with mixed organic ligands 5-methylisophthalic acid, 2,2'-bipyridine or phenanthroline, have been hydrothermally synthesised and characterised. The magnetic properties of the Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+ compounds have been investigated. Structure analysis shows that the assemblies with a bridging ligand possessing a smaller methyl group (compared to the tert-butyl group) afford coordination compounds containing multinuclear metal centres and structures of higher dimension. The result shows that the structures and properties of the metal-organic materials can be finely tuned by the substituent on the organic bridging ligands. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.