Heteronuclear trimetallic and 1D polymeric 3d-4f Schiff base complexes with OCN- and SCN- ligands

Reactions of heterobimetallic 3d-4f Schiff base complexes of the formula [ZnLnL(H2O)(NO3)(3)] (1a-e) with KOCN or NH4SCN in refluxing MeCN produce either one dimensional polymeric materials [ZnLnL(NO3)(2)(H2O)(OCN)](infinity) (2a-c) or trinuclear complexes of the formula [Zn(2)LnL(2)(NO3)(SCN)(2)] (3a-e)(a(La), b(Nd), c(Er), d(Tb), e(Eu); H2L = N, N'-bis-(3-methoxysalicylidene)ethylene-1,2-diamine). The structures of 2a,b and 3b-e have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Structural differences between the complexes affect the photophysical properties, which have been studied in acetonitrile solutions.