An unexpected cubane-like nickel(II) tetranuclear complex bridged by the anion of 2-hydroxymethylbenzimidazole: Crystal structure and magnetic properties

A novel tetranuclear cubane-like complex [Ni4(hbzim)4(N3)4(mal)2(CH3OH)(H2O)] (Hhbzim = 2-hydroxymethylbenzimidazole, mal = 4-methoxyaniline) has been synthesized and characterized structurally as well as magnetically. The structure analyses reveal that this complex consists of a Ni4O4 cubane core and the different coordinate environments of the nickel(II) ions result in a cubane structure with differing Ni–Ni distances and Ni–O–Ni angles. The magnetic properties of this complex have been interpreted by employing one-J and two-J model. The results show that ferromagnetic interaction dominates in the complex.