Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic characterization of a new phenoxo-bridged binuclear manganese(III) Schiff base complex exhibiting single-molecule-magnet behavior

A new phenoxo-bridged binuclear manganese(III) Schiff base complex, [Mn(L)(N3)]2 (1) where L = N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-propanediamine has been synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, crystal structure analysis and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. The single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the structure is dimeric with each phenolate oxygen atom acting as a bridge between two symmetry equivalent Mn atoms. Low temperature magnetic study shows that the complex exhibits intra-dimer ferromagnetic exchange and single-molecule-magnet (SMM) behavior as well.