Syntheses, structures, Hirshfeld surface analyses and magnetic properties of a series of homopolynuclear half-salamo-based complexes

Two newly di- and tri-nuclear Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes constructed from a half-salamo chelating ligand (HL: 2-[O-(1-ethyloxyamide)]oxime-6-methoxyphenol), [Cu2(L)2(μ-OAc)2] (1) and [{Ni3(μ-OAc)2(L)2(OAc)2]·CHCl3 (2), and one tetranuclear Co(II) complex [Co4(L′)4(MeOH)4] (3) based on an unexpected ligand H2L′ derived from the cleavage of HL have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–vis spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The single crystals of complexes 1, 2 and 3 in the process of synthesis are obtained through different routes. The complex 1 includes two Cu(II) atoms, two completely deprotonated (L)− units and two μ-acetate ions, which displays a propeller-type motif. The complex 2 contains three Ni(II) atoms, two completely deprotonated (L)− units, two μ-acetate ions, two chelating acetate ions and one crystallizing chloroform molecule, the crystal structure of complex 2 reveals a butterfly-type motif. The complex 3 is made up of four Co(II) atoms, four completely deprotonated (L′)2− units (HL′: 2-[O-(1-hydroxyethyl)]oxime-6-methoxyphenol) and four coordinated methanol molecules, which shows a windmill-type motif. Besides, magnetic properties and Hirshfeld surface analyses were discussed.