A unique tetranuclear cubane-like [Ni4O4] complex supported by hydroxyl-rich ligands: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic property

The tetranuclear cubane-like complex of the formula [Ni4(HL1)3(HL2)(H2O)(CH3OH)] [CH3COO]·2CH3OH·CH3CN (1) (H3L1 = 3-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)propane-1,2-diol; H2L2 = 3-aminoprppane-1,2-diol) has been prepared by a one-pot reaction of nickel(II) acetate, salicylaldehyde and 3-aminopropane-1,2-diol, where the H3L1 ligand was generated in situ via the condensation reaction between salicylaldehyde and 3-aminopropane-1,2-diol. The X-ray diffraction analysis of the complex showed a Ni4O4 cubane arrangement and the coordination environments of four Ni(II) ions are different from each other. Magnetic studies indicated ferromagnetic behavior for the complex. The magnetic data were fitted and the parameters were given as g = 2.43, J1 = 15.96, and J2 = 4.116.