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A new heteroleptic 1D Cu(I)-Re(IV) coordination polymer of the formula {Cu(I)Re(IV)Cl4(μ-Cl)(μ-pyz)[Re(IV)Cl4(μ-bpym)]}n·nMeNO2 (1; pyz = pyrazine, bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine) has been prepared through the Cu(I)-mediated self-assembly of two different Re(IV) metalloligands, namely, [ReCl5(pyz)](-) and [ReCl4(bpym)]. 1 consists of chiral branched chains with an overall rack-type architecture displaying photoemission and magnetic ordering. These results constitute a first step toward making new multifunctional magnetic materials based on mixed 3d-5d molecular systems.

The heterobimetallic complexes of formula [(Me(2)phen)(2)M(μ-NCS)Re(NCS)(5)]·CH(3)CN [Me(2)phen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and M = Ni (1), Co (2), Fe (3), and Mn (4)] have been prepared, and their crystal structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction on single crystals. Compounds 1-4 crystallize in the monoclinic C2/c space group, and their structure consists of neutral [(Me(2)phen)(2)M(μ-NCS)Re(NCS)(5)] heterodinuclear units with a Re-SCN-M bridge. Each Re(IV) ion in this series is six-coordinated with one sulfur and five nitrogen atoms from six thiocyanate groups building a somewhat distorted octahedral environment, whereas the M(II) metal ions are five-coordinated with four nitrogen atoms from two bidentate Me(2)phen molecules and a nitrogen atom from the bridging thiocyanate describing distorted trigonal bipyramidal surroundings. The values of the Re···M separation through the thiocyanate bridge in 1-4 vary in the range 5.903(1)-6.117(3) Å. The magnetic properties of 1-4 as well as those of the parent mononuclear Re(IV) compounds (NBu(4))(2)[Re(NCS)(6)] (A1) (NBu(4)(+) = tetra-n-butylammonium cation) and [Zn(NO(3))(Me(2)phen)(2)](2)[Re(NCS)(5)(SCN)] (A2) were investigated in the temperature range 1.9-300 K. Weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the Re(IV) and M(II) ions across the bridging thiocyanate were found in 1-4 [J = -4.3 (1), -2.4 (2), -1.8 (3), and -1.2 cm(-1) (4), the Hamiltonian being defined as Ĥ = -JŜ(Re)·Ŝ(M)]. The magnetic behavior of A2 is that of a magnetically diluted Re(IV) complex with a large and positive value of the zero-field splitting for the ground level (D(Re) = +37.0 cm(-1)). In the case of A1, although its magnetic behavior is similar to that of A2 in the high-temperature range (D(Re) being +19.0 cm(-1)), it exhibits a weak ferromagnetism below 3.0 K with a canting angle of 1.3°.

The use of the [ReCl(4)(bpym)] precursor as a ligand toward the fully solvated nickel(II) metal ion affords the first example of a 2,2'-bipyrimidine-bridged Re(IV)-Ni(II) complex, [ReCl(4)(μ-bpym)NiBr(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (1), whose intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling has been substantiated from both experimental and theoretical studies., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

Four heterotrinuclear Re(IV)(2)M(II) compounds of general formula (NBu(4))(2)[{Re(IV)Br(4)(μ-ox)}(2)M(II)(Him)(2)] [NBu(4)(+) = tetra-n-butylammonium cation, ox = oxalate, Him = imidazole; M = Mn (1), Co (2), Ni (3), and Cu (4)] have been synthesized by using the novel mononuclear complex [Re(IV)Br(4)(ox)](2-) as a ligand toward divalent first-row transition metal ions in the presence of imidazole. Compounds 1-4 are isostructural complexes whose structure contains discrete trinuclear [{Re(IV)Br(4)(μ-ox)}(2)M(II)(Him)(2)](2-) anions and bulky NBu(4)(+) cations. The Re and M atoms are six-coordinated: four peripheral bromo and two oxalate-oxygens (at Re), and two cis-coordinated imidazole molecules and four oxygen atoms from two oxalate ligands (at M), build distorted octahedral surroundings. Two peripheral [ReBr(4)(ox)](2-) units act as bidentate ligands through the oxalate group toward the central [M(II)(Him)(2)] fragment affording the trinuclear entities. The values of the intramolecular Re···M separation are 5.62(1) (1), 5.51(1) (2), 5.46(1) (3), and 5.55(1) Å (4). Magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1-4 in the temperature range of 1.9-300 K show the occurrence of intramolecular antiferro- [J = -1.1 cm(-1) (1)] and ferromagnetic interactions [J = +3.9 (2), +19.7 (3), and +14.4 cm(-1) (4)], the Hamiltonian being defined as Ĥ = -J [Ŝ(M)(Ŝ(Re1) + Ŝ(Re2))]. The larger spin delocalization on the oxalato bridge in 1-4 when compared to the trinuclear Re(IV)(2)M(II) complexes with chloro instead of bromo as peripheral ligands (1'-4') accounts for the strengthening of the magnetic interactions in 1-4 [J = -0.35 (1'), +14.2 (3'), and +7.7 cm(-1) (4')]. An incipient frequency dependence of the out-of-phase ac signals of 3 at very low temperatures is reminiscent of a system with slow relaxation of the magnetization, a phenomenon characteristic of single-molecule magnet behavior., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

The use of the mononuclear species (NBu(4))(2)[Re(IV)Cl(4)(ox)] (NBu(4)(+) = tetra-n-butylammonium cation; ox = oxalate dianion) as a ligand toward fully solvated divalent first-row transition-metal ions affords the tetranuclear complexes (NBu(4))(4)[{Re(IV)Cl(4)(mu-ox)}(3)M(II)] with M = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co (3), Ni (4), and Cu (5). Their structure is made up of discrete [{ReCl(4)(mu-ox)}(3)M](4-) anions and bulky NBu(4)(+) cations. The complexes 2-5 crystallize in the triclinic system with space group P1; 2 and 5 as well as 3 and 4 are isostructural. The Re and M atoms exhibit somewhat distorted ReCl(4)O(2) and MO(6) octahedral surroundings, with the oxalate groups adopting the bis-bidentate bridging mode. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1-5 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K show the occurrence of intramolecular antiferromagnetic [J = -1.30 cm(-1) (1)] and ferromagnetic couplings [J = +1.62 (2), +3.0 (3), +16.3 (4), and +4.64 cm(-1) (5)], with the Hamiltonian being defined as H = -J[S(M)(S(Re1) + S(Re2) + S(Re3))]. Compound 4 is the first example of an oxalato-bridged heterometallic species that behaves as a single-molecule magnet with a ground-state spin S = (11)/(2) and D = -0.8(1) cm(-1), as shown by the study of its static and dynamic magnetic properties and a high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance study on polycrystalline samples together with detailed micro-SQUID measurements on single crystals.

The use of the (NBu4)2[ReIVCl4(ox)] mononuclear species as a ligand toward divalent first row transition metal ions in the presence of imidazole affords the new trinuclear compounds of formula (NBu4)2[{ReIVCl4(mu-ox)}2MII(Him)2] [NBu4+=tetra-n-butylammonium cation, ox=oxalate dianion, Him=imidazole; M=Mn (1), Co (2), Ni (3), Cu (4)] whose preparation, crystal structures, and magnetic properties are reported. 1-4 are isostructural complexes which are made up of discrete trinuclear [{ReIVCl4(mu-ox)}2MII(Him)2]2- anions and bulky NBu4+ cations. The Re and M atoms exhibit somewhat distorted octahedral surroundings which are built by four chloro and two oxalate oxygens (Re) and two imidazole nitrogen and four oxalate oxygen atoms (M), the central M atom being linked to the two peripheral Re atoms through bis-bidentate oxalate. The values of the Re...M separation across bridging oxalate vary in the range 5.646(2) (M=Ni) to 5.794(2) A (M=Mn). Magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1-4 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K show the occurrence of significant intramolecular antiferro- (1) and ferromagnetic (2-4) interactions. The nature and magnitude of the magnetic coupling in 1-4 are qualitatively understood through orbital symmetry considerations.

The Re(IV) complex [ReCl4(mal)]2-, in the form of two slightly different salts, (AsPh4)1.5(HNEt3)0.5[ReCl4(mal)] (1a) and (AsPh4)(HNEt3)[ReCl4(mal)] (1b), and the Re(IV)-Cu(II) bimetallic complexes [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(phen)2].CH3CN (2), [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(bpy)2] (3), and [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(terpy)] (4) (mal=malonate dianion, AsPh4=tetraphenylarsonium cation, HNEt3=triethylammonium cation, phen=1,10-phenanthroline, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine and terpy=2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) have been synthesized and the structures of 1a, 1b, 2, and 3 determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures of 1a and 1b are made up of discrete [ReCl4(mal)]2- anions and AsPh4+ and HNEt3+ cations, held together by electrostatic forces and hydrogen bonds. The Re(IV) atom is surrounded by four chloride anions and a bidentate malonate group, in a distorted octahedral environment. The structure of 2 consist of neutral dinuclear units [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(phen)2], with the metal ions united through a bridge carboxilato. The environment of Re(IV) is nearly identical to that in the mononuclear complex, and Cu(II) is five coordinate, being surrounded by four nitrogen atoms of two bidentate phen ligands and one oxygen atom of the malonato ligand. In 3, there are also dinuclear units, [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(bpy)2], but the Cu(II) ions complete a distorted octahedral coordination by binding with the free malonato oxygen atom of a neighbor unit, resulting in an infinite chain. The magnetic properties of 1-4 were also investigated in the temperature range 2.0-300 K. The magnetic behavior of 1a and 1b is as expected for a Re(IV) complex with a large value of the zero-field splitting (2D ca. 110 cm(-1)). For the bimetallic complexes, the magnetic coupling between Re(IV) and Cu(II) is antiferromagnetic in 2 (J=-0.39 cm(-1)), ferromagnetic in 4 (J=+1.51 cm(-1)), and nearly negligible in 3 (J=-0.09 cm(-1)).

The hexahalorhenate(IV) salts of formula [Fe(C5H5)2]2[ReX6], with X = Cl (1), Br (2), and I (3), and [Fe(C5Me5)2]2[ReX6], with X = Cl (4), Br (5), and I (6) ([Fe(C5Me5)2]+ = decamethylferrocenium cation), have been synthesized and the structures of 1, 2, and 4 determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1, 2, and 4 crystallize in the orthorhombic system, space groups Pbca (1 and 2) and Ibam (4), with a = 14.099(2) A, b = 16.125(2) A, and c = 22.133(15) A, for 1, a = 14.317(3) A, b = 16.848(3) A, and c = 22.099(2) A for 2, and a = 15.8583(5) A, b = 15.9368(5) A, and c = 16.9816(6) A for 4. The three structures are made up of discrete [ReX6]2- anions and ferrocenium cations held together by electrostatic forces. There are anion-anion contacts in 1 and 2 but only through one direction. The [ReX6]2- octahedra are arranged along the y axis forming chains of Re and X atoms, -Re-X...X-Re-X...X-Re-, where the intermolecular X...X distances are shorter than the van der Waals distances. A somewhat greater separation between the anions occurs in 4. The magnetic properties of 1-6 were investigated in the temperature range 2.0-300 K. 1, 2, 4, and 5 exhibit an antiferromagnetic coupling between the anions, whereas a ferromagnetic coupling between anions and cations is the dominant interaction in 3. 6 behaves as a magnetically isolated compound, its susceptibility being the simple addition of the independent contributions of the uncoupled paramagnetic cations and anions.

The ionic salts of rhenium(IV) of formula (Cat)(2)[ReI(6)] with Cat = Li(+) (1), Na(+) (2), K(+) (3), Rb(+) (4), Cs(+) (5), NH(4)(+) (6), and AsPh(4)(+) (7) [AsPh(4)(+) = tetraphenylarsonium cation] have been synthesized, and the structures of two of them (namely, 3 and 6) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group Pn, with a = 7.815(1) A, b = 7.874(1) A, c = 11.335(1) A, beta = 90.38(1) degrees, and Z = 2 whereas 6 crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group P4/mnc, with a = 7.881(1) A, b = 7.881(1) A, c = 11.474(2) A, and Z = 2. The structures of 3 and 6 are made up of discrete [ReI(6)](2)(-) anions and K(+) (3) or NH(4)(+) (6) cations held together by electrostatic forces (3 and 6) and N-H.I hydrogen bonds (6). The rhenium(IV) cation in 3 and 6 is surrounded by six iodide ligands in an octahedral environment with the Re-I bond lengths varying in a very narrow range [2.704(3)-2.738(3) and 2.716(1)-2.722(2) A for 3 and 6, respectively]. The [ReI(6)](2)(-) anions in 6 describe a tetragonally distorted body-centered cubic structure. In 3, the arrangement of these units is similar but more distorted. The different arrangement of the anions in 3 and 6 accounts for the centrosymmetric (6) and non-centrosymmetric (3) structures observed. The magnetic properties of 1-7 were investigated in the temperature range 2.0-300 K. The magnetic behavior of 7 is that of a magnetically diluted Re(IV) complex with a large value of the zero-field splitting of the ground level (|2D| = 49.8 cm(-)(1)) whereas those of 1, 2, and 4-6 are typical of antiferromagnetically coupled systems with susceptibility maxima at 28 (1), 27 (2), 21 (4), 16 (5), and 20 K (6). In the case of compound 3, its magnetic behavior in the high-temperature range is parallel to that observed in the parent salts but below 24 K it is a weak ferromagnet with a canting angle of ca. 1.2 degrees.

Four rhenium(IV)-M(II) bimetallic complexes of formula [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)M(dmphen)(2)].CH(3)CN with M = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co (3), and Ni (4) (ox = oxalate anion, dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and the crystal structures of 1 and 3 determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 and 3 are isostructural and crystallize in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 16.008(4) A, b = 12.729(2) A, c = 18.909(5) A, beta = 112.70(2) degrees, and Z = 4 for 1 and a = 15.998(4) A, b = 12.665(2) A, c = 18.693(5) A, beta = 112.33(2) degrees, and Z = 4, for 3. The structure of 1 and 3 is made up of neutral [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)M(dmphen)(2)] bimetallic units (M = Mn (1), Co (3)) and acetonitrile molecules of crystallization. M(II) and Re(IV) metal ions exhibit distorted octahedral coordination geometries being bridged by a bis(bidentate) oxalato ligand. The magnetic behavior of 1-4 has been investigated over the temperature range 2.0-300 K. A very weak antiferromagnetic coupling between Re(IV) and Mn(II) occurs in 1 (J = -0.1 cm(-)(1)), whereas a significant ferromagnetic interaction between Re(IV) and M(II) is observed in 2-4 [J = +2.8 (2), +5.2 (3), and +5.9 cm(-)(1) (4)].

Three copper(II)-rhenium(IV) bimetallic complexes of formula [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)Cu(phen)(2)] (1), [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)Cu(phen)(2)].CH(3)CN (2), and [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)Cu(terpy) (H(2)O)][ReCl(4)(mu-ox)Cu(terpy)(CH(3)CN)] (3) (ox = oxalate anion, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and terpy = 2,2':6,2"- terpyridine) have been synthesized and their crystal structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P(-1), with a = 9.776(2), b = 11.744(3), c = 14.183(3) A, alpha =102.09(2) degrees, beta = 109.42(2) degrees, gamma = 107.11(2) degrees, and Z = 2, whereas 2 and 3 crystallize in the monoclinic system, space groups P2(1)/n and P2(1)/c, respectively, with a = 12.837(3), b = 17.761(4), c = 12.914(3) A, beta = 91.32(2) degrees, and Z = 4 for 2, and a = 8.930(2), b = 18.543(4), c = 27.503(6) A, beta = 94.67(2) degrees, and Z = 4 for 3. The structures of 1 and 2 are made up of neutral [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)Cu(phen)(2)] bimetallic units. Re(IV) and Cu(II) metal ions exhibit distorted octahedral coordination geometries, being bridged by a bis(bidentate) oxalato ligand. The presence of acetonitrile molecules of crystallization in 2 causes a somewhat greater separation between the bimetallic complexes and a different packing of these units in the crystal structure with respect to 1. The copper-rhenium separation across oxalato is 5.628(2) in 1 and 5.649(3) A in 2. The structure of 3 is made up of two different and neutral bimetallic units, [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)Cu(terpy)(H(2)O)] and [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)Cu(terpy)(CH(3)CN)]. In the first one, the oxalate group behaves as a bis(bidentate) ligand occupying one equatorial and one axial position in the elongated octahedral environment of Cu(II). The water molecule is axially coordinated. In the second one, the oxalate group behaves as a bidentate/monodentate ligand occupying the axial position in the square pyramidal environment of Cu(II). The acetonitrile molecule occupies a basal coordination position around the copper atom. These units are arranged in such a way that a chlorine atom of the first unit (Cl(1)) points toward the copper atom (Cu(2))of the second one (3.077(2) A for Cl(1)(.)Cu(2)), forming a tetranuclear species. The copper-rhenium separation across bis(didentate) oxalato is 5.504(3) A, whereas that through bidentate/monodentate oxalato is 5.436(2) A. The magnetic behavior of 2 and 3 has been investigated over the temperature range 1.8-300 K. A very weak and nearly identical antiferromagnetic coupling between Re(IV) and Cu(II) through bis(bidentate) oxalato occurs in 2 (J = -0.90 cm(-1)) and 3 (J = -0.83 cm(-1)); it is ferromagnetic in 3 through both the bidentate-monodentate oxalato (J = +5.60 cm(-1)) and the chloro (J = +0.70 cm(-1)) bridges.

The preparation and crystal structures of two oxalato-bridged FeII-FeIII mixed-valence compounds, [FeII(bpm)3]2[FeIII2(ox)5].8H2O (1) and FeII(bpm)3Na(H2O)2FeIII(ox)(3).4H2O (2) (bpm = 2,2'-bipyrimidine; ox = oxalate dianion) are reported here. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 10.998(2) A, b = 13.073(3) A, c = 13.308(3) A, alpha = 101.95(2) degrees, beta = 109.20(2) degrees, gamma = 99.89(2) degrees, and Z = 1. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 12.609(2) A, b = 19.670(5) A, c = 15.843(3) A, beta = 99.46(1) degrees, and Z = 4. The structure of complex 1 consists of centrosymmetric oxalato-bridged dinuclear high-spin iron(III) [Fe2(ox)5]2- anions, tris-chelated low-spin iron(II) [Fe(bpm)3]2+ cations, and lattice water molecules. The iron atoms are hexacoordinated: six oxygen atoms (iron(III)) from two bidentate and one bisbidentate oxalato ligands and six nitrogen atoms (iron(II)) from three bidentate bpm groups. The Fe(III)-O(ox) and Fe(II)-N(bpm) bond distances vary in the ranges 1.967(3)-2.099(3) and 1.967(4)-1.995(3) A, respectively. The iron(III)-iron(III) separation across the bridging oxalato is 5.449(2) A, whereas the shortest intermolecular iron(III)-iron(II) distance is 6.841(2) A. The structure of complex 2 consists of neutral heterotrinuclear Fe(bpm)2Na(H2O)2Fe(ox)3 units and water molecules of crystallization. The tris-chelated low-spin iron(II) ([Fe(bpm)3]2+) and high-spin iron(III) ([Fe(ox)3]3-) entities act as bidentate ligands (through two bpm-nitrogen and two oxalato-oxygen atoms, respectively) toward the univalent sodium cation, yielding the trinuclear (bpm)2Fe(II)-bpm-Na(I)-ox-Fe(III)(ox)2 complex. Two cis-coordinated water molecules complete the distorted octahedral surrounding of the sodium atom. The ranges of the Fe(II)-N(bpm) and Fe(III)-O(ox) bond distances [1.968(6)-1.993(5) and 1.992(6)-2.024(6) A, respectively] compare well with those observed in 1. The Na-N(bpm) bond lengths (2.548(7) and 2.677(7) A) are longer than those of Na-O(ox) (2.514(7) and 2.380(7) A) and Na-O(water) (2.334(15) and 2.356(12) A). The intramolecular Fe(II)...Fe(III) separation is 6.763(2) A, whereas the shortest intermolecular Fe(II)...Fe(II) and Fe(III)...Fe(III) distances are 8.152(2) and 8.992(2) A, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature range 2.0-290 K for 1 reveal that the high-spin iron(III) ions are antiferromagnetically coupled (J = -6.6 cm-1, the Hamiltonian being defined as H = -JS1.S2). The magnitude of the antiferromagnetic coupling through the bridging oxalato in the magneto-structurally characterized family of formula [M2(ox)5](2m-10)+ (M = Fe(III) (1), Cr(III), and Ni(II)) is analyzed and discussed by means of a simple orbital model.

Two new rhenium(IV) compounds of formula (AsPh(4))(2)[ReCl(4)(ox)] (1) and [ReCl(4)(&mgr;-ox)Cu(bipy)(2)] (2) (AsPh(4) = tetraphenylarsonium cation, ox = oxalate anion, and bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized and their crystal structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic system, space groups P2(1)/c and P2(1)/n, respectively, with a = 22.250(5) Å, b = 11.245(3) Å, c = 19.089(4) Å, beta = 96.59(2) degrees, and Z = 4 for 1 and a = 9.421(2) Å, b = 16.909(4) Å, c = 16.179(4) Å, beta = 93.97(2) degrees, and Z = 4 for 2. The structure of 1 is made up of [ReCl(4)(ox)](2)(-) anions and AsPh(4)(+) cations held united by electrostatic forces. Rhenium(IV) is hexacoordinate, with two oxygens of a chelating ox and four chlorine atoms building a distorted octahedron around the metal atom. There is no contact between the [ReCl(4)(ox)](2)(-) anions, the shortest Re.Re and Cl.Cl distances being 10.345 and 7.209 Å, respectively. This anionic complex is coordinated to a [Cu(bipy)(2)](2+) cation in 2, through one oxalate-oxygen, giving a neutral heterometallic dinuclear unit. The Cu(II) ion shows a very distorted five-coordinated geometry, four bipy-nitrogens occuping the equatorial positions and the oxygen atom the apical one. The basal plane geometry is distorted toward the tetrahedron, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the two bipy ligands is 37.6(2) degrees. These [ReCl(4)(&mgr;-ox)Cu(bipy)(2)] units are arranged in such a way that a chlorine atom of one of them points toward the copper atom of the neighboring one, forming helicoid chains. The intrachain Re.Cu distances through chloro and oxalato bridges are 4.658 and 4.798 Å, respectively. The magnetic behavior of 1 and 2 has been investigated over the temperature range 1.8-300 K. 1 is a magnetically diluted Re(IV) complex, the great value of zero-field splitting of the ground level (D = 60 cm(-)(1)) accounting for the variation of chi(M)T with T in the low-temperature range. 2 behaves as a ferrimagnetic chain, with weak antiferromagnetic interactions between Re(IV) and Cu(II) through oxalato and single chloro bridges.

A new heterotrinuclear complex of formula [Cu(2)Zn(Hdmg)(2)(dmg)(2)(H(2)O)].0.5H(2)dmg.H(2)O (C(18)H(34)Cu(2)N(9)O(11)Zn, 1) (H(2)dmg = dimethylglyoxime) has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P&onemacr;, with a = 11.414(1) Å, b = 11.992(3) Å, c =12.567(10) Å, alpha = 91.27(6) degrees, beta = 111.46(2) degrees, gamma = 112.24(2) degrees, and Z = 2. The structure consists of a chain of neutral [Cu(2)Zn(Hdmg)(2)(dmg)(2)(H(2)O)] trinuclear units and noncoordinated H(2)dmg and water molecules. The configuration around the zinc atom is distorted trigonal bipyramidal with four oximate oxygens from two [Cu(Hdmg)(dmg)](-) fragments (each one acting as a bidentate ligand through its deprotonated oximate oxygens in cis positions) occupying one axial and the three equatorial positions and an additional oximate oxygen from a symmetry-related [Cu(Hdmg)(dmg)](-) fragment filling the remaining axial position. The environment around Cu(1) and Cu(2) is distorted square pyramidal with four oximate nitrogen atoms building the equatorial plane. An oxygen atom [O(9)] from a water molecule and an oximate oxygen from a symmetry-related [Cu(Hdmg)(dmg)](-) fragment occupy the apical position of the square pyramids around Cu(1) and Cu(2), respectively. The trinuclear units are repeated through inversion centers standing at the middle of the Zn(1).Zn(1)(i) and Cu(2).Cu(2)(ii) vectors leading to a chain which runs parallel to the diagonal of the ac-plane. The Cu(1).Cu(2), Zn(1).Zn(1)(i), and Cu(2).Cu(2)(ii) separations are 5.506(2), 3.390(2), and 3.930(2) Å, respectively. 1 exhibits a characteristic ferromagnetic behavior with a continuous increase of the chi(M)T product as the temperature is lowered from 300 to 2.0 K. The field dependence of the magnetization at 2.0 K is consistent with a low-lying quintet state. The only efficient exchange pathways responsible for the overall ferromagnetic coupling in 1 are the diamagnetic zinc(II) ion and the out-of-plane double-oximato bridge, the magnitude of the magnetic coupling between the copper(II) ions through these bridging units being 3.9 and 5.1 cm(-)(1), respectively.

The first example of spin crossover iron(II) complexes based on dihydrobis(1-pyrazolyl)borate are presented here. The complexes {Fe[H(2)B(Pz)(2)](2)(phen)} (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), 1, and {Fe[H(2)B(Pz)(2)](2)(bipy)} (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), 2, have been synthesized and their structures determined by X-ray diffraction methods. Crystals 1 and 2 are monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z = 4 with a = 17.448(4) Å, b = 16.101(4) Å, c = 10.611(2) Å, and beta = 112.47(2) degrees for 1 and a = 16.307(2) Å, b = 15.075(4) Å, c = 11.024(4) Å, and beta = 114.95(5) degrees for 2 at 293 K. The crystal structure of 2 was also determined at 139 K in order to detect the structural changes associated with the S = 0 <--> S = 2 spin conversion. 2 retains the same space group upon spin conversion with a = 16.086(6) Å, b = 14.855(6) Å, c = 10.812(2) Å, and beta = 114.18(3) degrees. The structures of 1 and 2 are made up of mononuclear neutral species where the positive charge of iron(II) is neutralized through the coordination of two chelate bidentate dihydrobis(pyrazolyl)borate anions, and phen or bipy neutral ligands are used to fill the iron(II) coordination sphere. The molecular structures for both compounds are very similar, with Fe-N bond lengths in the 2.212-2.158 Å range for the high-spin phase. The structural modifications associated with the spin change in 2 mainly consist of a large reorganization of the metal environment: the Fe-N decreases by 0.15 Å (mean value) when the temperature is lowered from 290 to 139 K and a more regular shape of the [FeN(6)] octahedron is achieved through a slight modification of the trigonal deformation angle from 5.3 degrees to 3.2 degrees along with remarkable variations of the N-Fe-N angles. The thermodynamic model of Slichter and Drickamer was applied to account for the magnetic data. The intermolecular interaction parameter and the enthapy and entropy changes associated with the spin transition were estimated as Gamma = 3.3 kJ mol(-)(1), DeltaH = 13.4 kJ mol(-)(1), and DeltaS = 81.9 J mol(-)(1) K(-)(1) for 1 and Gamma = 1.7 kJ mol(-)(1), DeltaH = 13.4 kJ mol(-)(1), and DeltaS = 83.9 J mol(-)(1) K(-)(1) for 2, respectively.

The first pentanuclear complexes of formula {Dy[Cu(apox)](2)[Cu(apox)(H(2)O)](2)}[ClO(4)](3).7H(2)O (1), {Ho[Cu(apox)][Cu(apox)(H(2)O)](3)}[PF(6)](3).4.5H(2)O (2), {Gd[Cu(apox)](2)[Cu(apox)(H(2)O)](2)}[ClO(4)](3).7H(2)O (3) and {Gd[Cu(apox)][Cu(apox) (H(2)O)](3)}[PF(6)](3).4.5H(2)O (4) (H(2)apox = N,N'-bis(3-aminopropyl)oxamide) have been synthesized. The crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. Complexes 3 and 4 are isostructural with 1 and 2, respectively. Crystallographic data are as follows: 1 and 3, monoclinic, space group C2/c and Z = 4, with a = 14.646(6) Å, b = 29.496(7) Å, c = 16.002(7) Å, and beta = 111.76(2) degrees for 1 and a = 14.523(6) Å, b = 29.441(6) Å, c = 15.925(8) Å, and beta = 111.90(4) degrees for 3; 2 and 4, triclinic, P&onemacr;, and Z = 2, with a = 14.346(2) Å, b = 14.454(2) Å, c = 18.107(4) Å, alpha = 90.95(2) degrees, beta = 110.75(2) degrees, and gamma = 106.77(2) degrees for 2 and a = 14.365(6) Å, b = 14.496(5) Å, c = 18.172(7) Å, alpha = 91.27(3) degrees, beta = 110.74(3) degrees, and gamma = 106.67(3) degrees for 4. A tripositive ion is present in these structures, the electroneutrality being achieved by three uncoordinated perchlorate (1) or hexafluorophosphate (2) anions. The lanthanide cations are eight-coordinate with a pseudo-square-antiprismatic environment formed by carbonyl oxygen atoms from two [Cu(apox)] and two Cu(apox)(H(2)O)] (1) and one [Cu(apox)] and three [Cu(apox)(H(2)O)] (2) bidentate ligands. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of complexes 1-4 was investigated in the range 1.8-300 K. The ligand-field effect, as well as the mixing of the free-ion states in Dy(III) and Ho(III), make extremely difficult the analysis of the overall antiferromagnetic interaction which is observed for complexes 1 and 2. The magnetic susceptibility data for complexes 3 and 4 have shown that the ground-state spin for the [Gd(III)Cu(II)(4)] unit is S = 11/2, the Gd(III)-Cu(II) interaction being ferromagnetic with an interaction parameter J(GdCu) = 0.85 cm(-)(1) (the interaction Hamiltonian is of the form H = -JS(A).S(B)). The field dependence of the magnetization at 2 K of 3 and 4 confirms the nature of the ground state and of the Gd(III)-Cu(II) interaction. The influence of the topology and of the type of bridging ligand on the nature and magnitude of the magnetic interaction in the Gd(III)-Cu(II) pair is analyzed and discussed in light of available magnetostructural data.