Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic characterization of a cyanide-bridged Mo–Ni nanosized molecular wheel

Abstract

Abstract By using K4[Mo(CN)8] and [Ni(L)(H2O)2][ClO4]2 as reagents (L = 2,12-dimethyl-3,7,11,17-tetraazabicyclo [11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene), a new cyanide-bridged Mo–Ni complex containing the building blocks [Ni(H2O)(L)]2+ and [Ni(L)]2+ bridged by [Mo(CN)8]4− units has been obtained. The complex with the formula {[Ni(H2O)(L)][Ni(L)][Mo(CN)8]}6 · 36H2O · 2CH3OH (1) was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure determination reveals an octadecanuclear cluster in the form of a 36-membered macrocycle, in which the largest intramolecular W···W and Ni···Ni distances are 16.5 and 14.4 Å, respectively, indicating that complex 1 is a nanosized molecular wheel. Investigation of its magnetic properties has shown weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the adjacent Ni(II) ions bridged by the diamagnetic [Mo(CN)8]4− ions.