Three new Cu(II)-Ln(III) heterometallic coordination polymers constructed from quinolinic acid and nicotinic acid: Synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties

Three new Cu(II)-Ln(III) heterometallic coordination polymers based on two N-heterocyclic carboxylic ligands, {[LnCu(L1)2(L2)(H2O)2]·mH2O}n (Ln = La(1), Nd(2), Gd(3), m = 2 (for 1), 1 (for 2, 3), H2L1 = quinolinic acid, HL2 = nicotinic acid), have been synthesized and characterized. 1 has a two-dimensional (2D) layer structure with a Schlafli symbol of (44.62), while complexes 2 and 3 are isostructural and have three-dimensional (3D) structures with a Schlafli symbol of (3.4.5)2(32.42.52.614.74.83.9)(32.63.7) of 3-nodal net. Magnetic investigations suggest that antiferromagnetic coupling exists between NdIII and CuII in 2, while weak ferromagnetic coupling between GdIII and CuII in 3. The difference of magnetic properties between 2 and 3 has been discussed.