NiII Centers Research Articles

5,5,15,15-Tetraoxo-5,15-Dithiaporphyrin as a Highly Electron-Deficient Porphyrinic Ligand.

Oxidation of 5,15-dithiaporphyrin with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid afforded the corresponding S,S-tetraoxide in good yield. The resultant 5,5,15,15-tetraoxo-5,15-dithiaporphyrin exhibited the highly electron-deficient nature as elucidated by the electrochemical analysis and theoretical calculations. Treatment of tetraoxodithiaporphyrin with zinc(II) acetate and nickel(II) acetate provided the corresponding metal complexes efficiently. Owing to its enhanced Lewis acidity of the metal center by the electron-deficient ligand, the nickel complex underwent facile axial ligation to form pentacoordinate and hexacoordinate high-spin (S=1) complexes in solution and solid, respectively. The binding constant of pyridine to the NiII center was significantly higher than those of conventional porphyrin NiII complexes. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements of the high-spin NiII complex revealed the presence of weak ferromagnetic interactions.

Tetranuclear 3 d/4 f Coordination Complexes as Homogeneous Catalysts for Bis(indolyl)methane Syntheses

AbstractTwo novel 3d (Ni)/4 f (Dy and Y) metal ions and polydentate organic ligands (H2L1 and H2L2) based tetranuclear coordination complexes, [(L1)4NiII2DyIII2(DMF)2(NO3)2]⋅DMF (1) and [(L2)4NiII2YIII2(DMF)2(NO3)2]⋅DMF⋅H2O (2), have been synthesized and characterized using IR, elemental analysis and single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The application of these complexes as C−C bond coupling homogeneous catalysts has been logically shown. The complex 1 acts as an excellent catalyst (with a very low catalyst loading of 0.17 mol%) for the syntheses of a wide range of bis(indolyl)methane derivatives in good yields using various indoles and aromatic/hetero aromatic aldehydes under optimized reaction conditions. A plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed showing the coordinative binding of the aromatic aldehyde at NiII centre along with the associative π‐stacking interaction between the ligand (H2L1) and the phenyl ring of the aromatic aldehyde and/or indole leading to the formation of the desired bis(indolyl)methanes under the metal assisted C−C bond forming reaction with subsequent elimination of water molecule in polar protic solvent.

NiII complexes of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradec-4,11-diene and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane bearing C-styrenyl: Synthesis, structures and voltammetry

The reaction between [Ni(HMD)](OTf)2 (HMD = 5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-teraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene) and benzaldehyde in the presence of NaOH afforded the 5,7-di(styrenyl) derivative [Ni(HMD-Styr)](OTf)2 (1), which was converted to the corresponding cyclam complex [Ni(HMC-Styr)](OTf)2 (2) upon NaBH4 reduction. Addition of NaBPh4 to the reduction reaction mixture led to the isolation of [Ni(HMC-Styr)](BPh4)2 (2′). Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 1 and 2′ revealed a square planar NiII center in both [1]2+ and [2]2+, which is characteristic of a low spin NiIId8 center. Complexes 1 and 2 remain low spin in acetonitrile solution as evidenced by their 1H NMR spectra and Vis absorption spectra. Complex 1 displayed two irreversible one-electron reductions between −1.4 and −1.8 V (versus Fc(+1/0)) under Ar in 20% aqueous acetonitrile, and exhibited a new peak around −1.9 V under CO2, indicating a mild activity towards CO2 reduction. In contrast, complex 2 displayed a reversible one-electron reduction at −1.59 V (versus Fc(+1/0)) under Ar, and a less reversible reduction under CO2 without shift in potential, revealing the lack of activity towards CO2.

Synthesis, structure, and properties of nickel(II) and copper(II) coordination polymers with the 5-ethyl-pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylate ligand

Abstract The reactions of Ni(NO3)2 · 6H2O/Cu(OAc)2 · H2O, 5-ethyl-pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (H2epda), and 2,2′-bipyridine (2,2′-bipy) under hydrothermal condition produced two new coordination polymers [Ni(Hepda)2(H2O)2] (1) and [Cu(epda)(2,2′-bipy)] (2), which were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 1, each NiII center is six-coordinated in a distorted NiO4N2 octahedral geometry. Adjacent structural units are joined by strong intermolecular O–H · · · O hydrogen bonding to generate a layered structure. In 2, the CuII centers are bridged by epda dianions to form chains, where the 2,2′-bipy ligands bristle out on two sides, establishing π-π stacking interactions, Adjacent chains are thus aggregated in layers. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were investigated, and the exchange interactions were found to be −1.62 and −2.24 cm−1, respectively.

Killing two birds with one stone: 2D+2D→3D parallel stacking and 3D self-penetrating structures in one reaction and their crystal-to-crystal transformation

Reaction of the flexible phenolic carboxylate ligand 2-(3,5-dicarboxylbenzyloxy)benzoic acid (H3L) with nickel salts in the presence of 1,2-bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethylene (bpe) leads to the generation of a mixture of the two complexes under solvolthermal conditions, namely poly[[aqua[μ-1,2-bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethylene-κ2N:N']{μ-5-[(2-carboxyphenoxy)methyl]benzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ3O1,O1':O3}nickel(II)] dimethylformamide hemisolvate monohydrate], {[Ni(C16H10O7)(C12H10N2)(H2O)]·0.5C3H7NO·H2O}n or {[Ni(HL)(bpe)(H2O)]·0.5DMF·H2O}n, 1, and poly[[diaquatris[μ-1,2-bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethylene-κ2N:N']bis{μ-5-[(2-carboxyphenoxy)methyl]benzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ2O1:O5}nickel(II)] dimethylformamide disolvate hexahydrate], {[Ni2(C16H10O7)2(C12H10N2)3(H2O)2]·2C3H7NO·6H2O}n or {[Ni2(HL)2(bpe)3(H2O)2]·2DMF·6H2O}n, 2. In complex 1, the NiII centres are connected by the carboxylate and bpe ligands to form two-dimensional (2D) 4-connected (4,4) layers, which are extended into a 2D+2D→3D (3D is three-dimensional) supramolecular framework. In complex 2, bpe ligands connect to NiII centres to form 2D layers with Ni6(bpe)6 metallmacrocycles. Interestingly, 2D+2D→3D inclined polycatenation was observed between these layers. The final 5-connected 3D self-penetrating structure was generated through further connection of Ni-carboxylate chains with these inclined motifs. Both complexes were fully characterized by single-crystal analysis, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, FT-IR spectra, elemental analyses, thermal analysis and UV-Vis spectra. Notably, an interesting metal/ligand-induced crystal-to-crystal transformation was observed between the two complexes.

Coordination‐Induced Spin‐State Switching of an Aminyl‐Radical‐Bridged Nickel(II) Porphyrin Dimer between Doublet and Sextet States

AbstractA bis(NiII‐porphyrinyl)aminyl radical with meso‐C6F5 groups was prepared as a spin‐delocalized stable aminyl radical with a doublet spin state. Upon addition of pyridine, both NiII centers became hexacoordinated by accepting two axial pyridines, which triggered a spin‐state change of the NiII centers from diamagnetic (S=0) to paramagnetic (S=1). The resulting high‐spin NiII centers interact with the aminyl radical ferromagnetically to give rise to an overall sextet state (S=5/2). Importantly, this coordination‐induced spin‐state switching can be conducted in a reversible manner, in that washing of the high‐spin radical with aqueous hydrochloric acid regenerates the original doublet radical in good yield.

Coordination‐Induced Spin‐State Switching of an Aminyl‐Radical‐Bridged Nickel(II) Porphyrin Dimer between Doublet and Sextet States

A bis(NiII -porphyrinyl)aminyl radical with meso-C6 F5 groups was prepared as a spin-delocalized stable aminyl radical with a doublet spin state. Upon addition of pyridine, both NiII centers became hexacoordinated by accepting two axial pyridines, which triggered a spin-state change of the NiII centers from diamagnetic (S=0) to paramagnetic (S=1). The resulting high-spin NiII centers interact with the aminyl radical ferromagnetically to give rise to an overall sextet state (S=5/2). Importantly, this coordination-induced spin-state switching can be conducted in a reversible manner, in that washing of the high-spin radical with aqueous hydrochloric acid regenerates the original doublet radical in good yield.

Synthesis and characterization of a hydro tris(3-phenylpyrazolyl)borato nickel(II) semiquinonate adduct

The in situ oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatecholate (3,5-DBC) by ambient O2 in the presence of nickel(II) tetrafluoroborate and sodium hydrotris-(3-phenylpyrazol-1-yl)borate (Na[TpPh]) results in the formation of a square pyramidal NiII complex bearing a κ3-[TpPh]− and a bidentate, 3,5-di-tert-butylsemiquinonate ligand radical ([3,5-DBSQ]− characterized by X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV), which all support the presence of a bound semiquinonate ligand. Density-functional-theory (DFT) was used to calculate the electronic and magnetic structure of [TpPh]Ni(3,5-DBSQ) predicting strong, antiferromagnetic coupling (J = −364 cm−1) between the high-spin NiII center and the [3,5-DBSQ]− radical consistent with the room-temperature magnetic moment of 2.4 μB determined by 1H NMR. Time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) enables assignment of the experimental absorption spectrum and suggest electronic communication between the [TpPh]− and (3,5-DBSQ)− ligands.

Exploration of catecholase-like activity of a series of magnetically coupled transition metal complexes of Mn, Co and Ni: new insights into the solution state behavior of Mn complexes.

A series of tri-nuclear complexes of general formula [M3L2(OAc)4], where M = Mn (1), Co (2) and Ni (3), (HL = (E)-4-bromo-2-(((2-morpholinoethyl)imino)methyl)phenol), have been synthesized. Single crystal X-ray crystallography reveals that each molecule contains three metal ions which are bridged by four acetate moieties. In the solution phase, the complexes are present as mononuclear species. Amongst them, the manganese atom of complex 1 switches its oxidation state from +ii to +iii with time, as confirmed by time dependent UV-Vis and EPR spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, complex 1 with Mn in both oxidation states can oxidise 3,5-DTBC to 3,5-DTBQ through the ligand centred radical formation pathway. It is remarkable that complex 1 in the MnII oxidation state shows an abnormally high rate constant value in the oxidation of 3,5-DTBC to 3,5-DTBQ. This difference in rate constant values for catechol oxidation reaction by complex 1 can be explained by considering the binding constant value of catechol with MnII and MnIII respectively from experimental and theoretical aspects. Similar to complex 1, complexes 2 and 3 also catalyse catechol oxidation following ligand centred imine radical formation pathways. Furthermore, magnetic properties of all the complexes were explored. DC magnetic susceptibility studies of complexes 1 and 2 revealed that in both the complexes the metal centres are antiferromagnetically coupled with adjacent metal centres, whereas in the case of complex 3, weak ferromagnetic interaction occurs between the neighbouring NiII centres at low temperature.

A Dynamically Stabilized Single-Nickel Electrocatalyst for Selective Reduction of Oxygen to Hydrogen Peroxide.

On-location electrochemical generation of H2 O2 is of great current interest. Herein, selective two-electron reduction of O2 to H2 O2 by a single [NiII (H2 O)6 ]2+ cation that is dynamically associated with a negatively charged metal-organic layer (MOL) by hydrogen bonding and coulombic interactions is reported. In contrast, NiII centers covalently immobilized on the MOL reduce O2 to H2 O in a four- electron process. Oxygen adsorption by [NiII (H2 O)6 ]2+ followed by two-electron reduction generates neutral [NiII (H2 O)4 (OH)(OOH)]0 , which momentarily disconnects from the negatively charged MOL to avoid the injection of additional electrons. Release of H2 O2 from [NiII (H2 O)4 (OH)(OOH)]0 regenerates [NiII (H2 O)6 ]2+ , which regains affinity to the MOL. Such dynamically associated NiII single-metal electrocatalysts ensure high selectivity and represent a new strategy for generating selective catalysts for electrochemical production of important chemicals.

Zwitterionic Design Principle of Nickel(II) Catalysts for Carbonylative Polymerization of Cyclic Ethers

AbstractZwitterionic structure is necessary for NiII complexes to catalyze carbonylative polymerization (COP) of cyclic ethers. The cationic charge at the NiII center imparts sufficient electrophilicity to the Ni–acyl bond for it to react with cyclic ethers to give an acyl‐cyclic ether oxonium intermediate, while the ligand‐centered anionic charge ensures that the resultant oxonium cation is ion‐paired with the Ni0 nucleophile. The current catalysts give non‐alternating copolymers of carbon monoxide and cyclic ethers and are the most effective when both ethylene oxide and tetrahydrofuran are present as the cyclic ether monomers.

Zwitterionic Design Principle of Nickel(II) Catalysts for Carbonylative Polymerization of Cyclic Ethers.

Zwitterionic structure is necessary for NiII complexes to catalyze carbonylative polymerization (COP) of cyclic ethers. The cationic charge at the NiII center imparts sufficient electrophilicity to the Ni-acyl bond for it to react with cyclic ethers to give an acyl-cyclic ether oxonium intermediate, while the ligand-centered anionic charge ensures that the resultant oxonium cation is ion-paired with the Ni0 nucleophile. The current catalysts give non-alternating copolymers of carbon monoxide and cyclic ethers and are the most effective when both ethylene oxide and tetrahydrofuran are present as the cyclic ether monomers.

Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic Oxidation of Organic Chlorides Using Air and an Inorganic‐Ligand Supported Nickel‐Catalyst Without Photosensitizers

AbstractEngineering photoredox‐triggered chemical transformation via visible light has been an emerging area in organic synthesis. However, most of the well‐established photocatalysts are based upon either transition metal complexes involved with noble metals and organic ligands or photosensitive organic dyes, the development of pure inorganic molecular photocatalysts that could provide better stability and durability is greatly retarded. Herein we discover that the Anderson polyoxometalate (POM) Na4[NiMo6O18(OH)6] (1), which consists of pure inorganic framework built from a central NiII core supported by six MoVIO6 inorganic scaffold/ligands, can be used as a powerful photocatalyst. Upon irradiation with visible light (>400 nm), the compound can catalyze, in high efficiency, a wide range of reactions, including the oxidative cross‐coupling reaction of chlorides with amines, as well as oxidation of chlorides using molecular oxygen, affording various imines, aldehydes, and ketones, respectively in high selectivity and good yields. Owing to the robust inorganic framework, this catalyst exhibits excellent stability during the catalysis and reusability with little loss of the catalytic activity, thus providing an alternative without use of complicated organic ligands and expensive noble metal‐based photosensitizers.

Instant Detection of Hydrogen Cyanide Gas and Cyanide Salts in Solid Matrices and Water by using CuII and NiII Complexes of Intramolecularly Hydrogen Bonded Zwitterions.

A series of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded zwitterionic compartmental ligands HL1-HL4, containing a pendent diamine arm that is monoprotonated and an aldehyde functionality at two different ortho-positions of a 4-halophenoxide, is reported herein. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) provides persuasive evidence for the identification of this class of proton-transferred zwitterions at room temperature. The solid-state photoluminescent nature of these zwitterions remains intact in aqueous and organic solutions. Grinding of HL1 and HL2 with Cu2+ /Ni2+ salts develop turn-on probes 1-4. Compounds 1 and 4 are dinuclear CuII and NiII species, respectively. Compound 2 is a tetranuclear CuII complex. Interestingly, compound 3 is a mononuclear NiII species in which both nitrogen atoms in the pendant diamine arm are protonated and, therefore, not coordinated to the NiII center. All these probes (1-4) display an instant response to the poison gas hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and cyanide salts present in both solid matrices and aqueous (100 % water) solution. Selective and rapid sensing of HCN gas and cyanide salts in solid/soil/water phases, without any interference, by the mechanosynthesized complexes 1-4 can be perceived easily by the naked eye under a hand-held UV lamp.

Heterometallic Octanuclear NiII 4LnIII 4 (Ln = Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) Complexes Containing NiII 2LnIII 2O4 Distorted Cubane Motifs: Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties.

The reaction of 2-methoxy-6-[{2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethylimino}methyl] phenol (LH3) with lanthanide metal salts followed by the addition of nickel acetate allowed isolation of a family of octanuclear complexes, [Ni4Ln4(μ2-OH)2(μ3-OH)4(μ-OOCCH3)8(LH2)4]·(OH)2·xH2O. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of these complexes reveal that their central metallic core consists of two tetranuclear [Ni2Ln2O4] cubane subunits fused together by acetate and hydroxide bridges. The magnetic study of these complexes reveals a ferromagnetic interaction between the LnIII and the NiII center. The magnitude of exchange coupling between the NiII and LnIII center, parametrized from the magnetic data of the Gd analogue, gives J = +0.86 cm–1. The magneto caloric effect, studied for the NiII4GdIII4 complex, shows a maximum of magnetic entropy change, −ΔSm = 22.58 J kg–1 K–1 at 3 K for an applied external field of 5 T.

Solvent-Induced Unsymmetric Salamo-Like Trinuclear NiII Complexes: Syntheses, Crystal Structures, Fluorescent and Magnetic Properties

Solvent-induced trinuclear NiII complexes, [{Ni(L)(MeOH)}2(OAc)2Ni]·2MeOH (1), [{Ni(L)(EtOH)}2(OAc)2Ni]·2H2O (2), [{Ni(L)(n-PrOH)}2(OAc)2Ni]·2H2O (3) and [{Ni(L)(i-PrOH)}2(OAc)2Ni] (4), have been prepared with an unsymmetric Salamo-like ligand H2L, and characterized via X-ray crystallography, FT-IR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra. In complexes 1, 2, 3 and 4, there are two ligand (L)2− moieties, two acetato ligands, two coordinated methanol, ethanol, n-propanol or i-propanol molecules, respectively, as well as other crystallizing solvent molecules. Two acetato ligands coordinated to the three NiII ions via usual Ni-O-C-O-Ni bridges, and four µ-phenoxo oxygen atoms coming from two [NiL(solvent)] units coordinate to the central NiII ions. Although different solvents are induced in the complexes, all the NiII ions are six-coordinated and adopt geometries of distorted octahedron. Magnetic measurements were performed on complex 2, an intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction was observed between NiII ions and a simulation of the experimental data gives J = −2.96 cm−1 and g = 2.30.

Electrocatalytic urea mineralization in aqueous alkaline medium using NiIIcyclam-modified nanoparticulate TiO2 anodes and its relationship with the simultaneous electrogeneration of H2 on Pt counterelectrodes

NiIIcyclam-modified nanoparticulate TiO2-coated ITO electrodes (ITO/TiO2//NiIIcyclam) were prepared by electropolymerization of NiIIcyclam monomers to TiO2-coated ITO electrodes (ITO/TiO2) to improve electrocatalytic urea CO(NH2)2 oxidation in alkaline aqueous solutions. A high value adding secondary effect was the collection of electrons at Pt cathodes, to simultaneously generate H2 from water reduction. NiIIcyclam-modified ITO electrodes (ITO//NiIIcyclam) were also prepared by electropolymerization of NiIIcyclam monomers to bare ITO electrodes (ITO) for comparison purposes. In the presence of the TiO2 nanoparticles, the urea mineralization on NiIIcyclam coatings was doubled (23.95% – organic carbon removal at 120 min of electrolysis) compared to those without TiO2 nanoparticles (13.02% – organic carbon removal at 120 min of electrolysis).In agreement, the faradaic efficiency for H2 generation at the Pt cathode, electrically connected to an anode having TiO2 nanoparticles (0.99 at 120 min of electrolysis), was also twice as effective than that observed when the same Pt cathode was electrically connected to an anode without TiO2 nanoparticles (0.46 at 120 min of electrolysis). The experimental results indicated that the poisoning of NiII centers (which is caused by an excessive production of CO intermediates during the urea oxidation on both NiIIcyclam-modified anodes) was strongly inhibited in the presence of the nanoparticulate TiO2|NiIIcyclam junction.A final comparison between our results and those reported in selected publications revealed that the NiIIcyclam-modified nanoparticulate TiO2-coated ITO anodes here developed, constitutes a promising electrocatalytic system for performing direct urea mineralization at a relative short electrolysis time. Furthermore, the combination of the following phenomena: (a) effective charge separation on the semiconducting ITO|nanoparticulate TiO2 junctions, (b) remarkable capabilities of the nanoporous TiO2 films for tuning the load of OH− anions demanded by the urea oxidation and, (c) outstanding capabilities of the TiO2 nanoparticles for capturing CO intermediates (at Ti3+ donor sites), successfully promoted the enhancement of the electron external transport to Pt cathodes, and consequently improved the faradaic efficiency associated to the cathodic generation of H2.

Modular bimetallic complexes with a sulfonamido-based ligand.

A series of bimetallic complexes prepared with the ligands N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine (TMEDA) and N,N',N''-[2,2',2''-nitrilotris(ethane-2,1-diyl)]tris(2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonamido) ([MST]3-) is described. Four diiron compounds of the formulation (TMEDA)FeII(X)-(μ-OH)-FeIIIMST were prepared, in which the X- ligands are the anions OTf-, Br-, SCN-, or N3-. Additionally, two heterobimetallic compounds of the formulation (TMEDA)MII(OTf)-(μ-OH)-FeIIIMST (MII = CoII or NiII) were synthesized. All these compounds have similar spectroscopic and structural properties. The diiron compounds exhibit perpendicular-mode electron paramagnetic resonance spectra consistent with S = 1/2 spin ground states, which is expected for high-spin FeII and FeIII centres that are antiferromagnetically coupled. The heterobimetallic (TMEDA)NiII(OTf)-(μ-OH)-FeIIIMST complex had a spin state of S = 3/2 that also resulted from antiferromagnetic coupling between the high-spin NiII and FeIII centres. The modularity of this system is further demonstrated by the substitution of the TMEDA ligand with ethylenediamine (en); for this species two equivalents of en coordinate to the FeII centre to form [(en)2FeII-(μ-OH)-FeIIIMST]OTf. These results demonstrate that a modular bimetallic system has been developed in which the key components can be modified.

Strong Ferromagnetic Exchange Coupling Mediated by a Bridging Tetrazine Radical in a Dinuclear Nickel Complex.

The radical bridged compound [(Ni(TPMA))2-μ-bmtz•-](BF4)3·3CH3CN (bmtz = 3,6-bis(2'-pyrimidyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine, TPMA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) exhibits strong ferromagnetic exchange between the S = 1 NiII centers and the bridging S = 1/2 bmtz radical with J = 96 ± 5 cm-1 (-2JNi-radSNiSrad). DFT calculations support the existence of strong ferromagnetic exchange.

Rare examples of diphenoxido-bridged trinuclear NiII2FeIII complexes with a reduced salen type Schiff base ligand: Structures and magnetic properties

Three new trinuclear hetero-metallic complexes, [(NiLR)2Fe(N3)3] (1), [(NiLR(H2O))2Fe(C6H5CH2CO2)2]·(HSO4) (2) and [(NiLR(H2O))2Fe(C6H5CO2)2]·(HSO4)·(H2O)·(CH2Cl2) (3) have been synthesized using [NiLR] as a “metalloligand” (where H2LR=N,N′-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,3-propanediamine). All complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic methods, single crystal XRD and magnetic study. In the angular trinuclear units of 1, the two terminals [NiLR] coordinate through double phenoxido bridges to the central FeIII ion which is penta-coordinated having terminally coordinated azide ion. The two terminal NiII centers are connected to each other and also to neighbouring units through μ1,3-azido bridges to form an alternating chain. On the other hand, complexes, 2 and 3 are linear discrete trinuclear species [NiII–FeIII–NiII] in which two terminal octahedral [NiLR] units coordinate to the central octahedral FeIII ion, located on a crystallographic centre of symmetry, through a μ2-phenoxido oxygen atom and a bridging carboxylato ion. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show the presence of antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in 1 mediated through the phenoxido bridges (J1=−33.2cm−1,) and μ1,3-N3 single bridges (J2=−19.9cm−1 and J3=−16.7cm−1). On the other hand, compounds 2 and 3 show ferromagnetic coupling interactions mediated through the double phenoxido bridges with J values of +4.9 and +3.0cm−1 for 2 and 3, respectively.