UFO-shaped heteronuclear 3d–4f metal clusters: Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

Abstract

Coordination molecule clusters assembled from a large number of metal ions and organic ligands are structurally and functionally challenging to characterize. Here, a series of new hetero-metallic nano-clusters {Mn6Ln2} (Ln = La 1, Ce 2, Sm 3, Gd 4) were obtained via solvothermal method. These complexes possess unique crystalline structures with vertex-sharing UFO-shaped [Mn6Ln2] cores. Interestingly, adjacent cluster molecules can further form a three-dimensional framework structure through π-π stacking interaction between acenaphthenequinone dioxime ligands. Magnetic tests show strong ferromagnetic exchange interactions within the {Mn6Ln2} clusters.