Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetism of lanthanide(III) binuclear complexes [Ln2(μ1,3-CH3CO2)2(SCN-)4L2(H2O)6] (Ln = Gd(III) and Eu(III), L = 4-methylpyridine N-oxide).

Two lanthanide(III) binuclear complexes have been synthesized with acetate as bridging ligand and 4-methylpyridine N-oxide (L), SCN- and H2O as terminal ligands and structurally determined by X-ray crystallography. Both crystals [Gd2(μ1,3-CH3CO2)2(SCN-)4(L)2(H2O6) (1) and [Eu2(μ1,3-CH3CO2)2(SCN-)4(L)2(H2O)6] (2) belong to monoclinic with space group P21/n. The relevant cell parameters are as follows: a = 9.0034(12) Å, b = 15.998(2) Å, c = 12.1277(17) Å, β = 100.625(2)° for complex 1; and a = 9.0168(18) Å, b = 15.990(3) Å, c = 12.142(2) Å, β = 100.734(3)° for complex 2; The two lanthanide(III) ions are bridged by two acetate anions forming a binuclear unit, in which L, SCN- and H2O as unidentate terminal ligands take part in the coordination. The variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility of 1 was measured in the 4-300 K range; fitting for the susceptibility data reveals that there is no magnetic interaction between the bridged Gd(III) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]