Four rare structurally characterized hetero-pentanuclear [Zn 4 Ln] bis(salamo)-type complexes: syntheses, crystal structures and spectroscopic properties.

Four new hetero-pentanuclear 3d-4f complexes [Zn ₄ (L) ₂ La(NO ₃ ) ₂ (OEt)(H ₂ O)] (1), [Zn ₄ (L) ₂ Ce(NO ₃ ) ₂ (OMe)(MeOH)] (2), [Zn ₄ (L) ₂ Pr(NO ₃ ) ₂ (OEt)(EtOH)] (3) and [Zn ₄ (L) ₂ Nd(NO ₃ ) ₂ (OMe)(MeOH)] (4) were synthesized by the reactions of a newly synthesized octadentate bis(salamo)-based tetraoxime ligand (H ₄ L) with Zn(OAc) ₂ ·2H ₂ O and Ln(NO ₃ ) ₃ ·6H ₂ O (Ln = La, Ce, Pr and Nd), respectively, and characterized via elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The X-ray crystallographic investigation revealed that all Zn ^II ions were located in N ₂ O ₃ coordination spheres, and possessed a trigonal bipyramid coordination environment. The Ln ^III ion lay in an O ₈ coordination sphere, and adopted a distorted square antiprismatic coordination environment. Furthermore, supramolecular interactions and fluorescence properties were investigated.
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