Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties of Cubane-Type Tetranuclear Ni(II) and Cu(II) Complexes with Amide-Containing Polydentate Ligand

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of a tetranuclear metal complex with a symmetrical polydentate ligand, trans-(+/-)-1,2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzamido)cyclohexane (H2L), were characterized. The complexes have tetranuclear cubane cores with the formulae [Ni4(L)2(mu 3-OMe)4(CH3OH)4] (1) and [Cu4(L)2(mu 3-OMe)4(CH3OH)2] (2), whose cluster units are each composed of chiral ligands [(R, R)- or (S, S)-L]. The magnetic properties of the two compounds were characterized by 1 being ferromagnetic and 2 being antiferromagnetic. Tetranuclear Ni(II) and Cu(II) cubane clusters, using an amide-containing polydentate ligand, have been synthesized and characterized.