Heterometallic clusters arising from cubic Ni3M′O4 (M′=K and Na) entity: Solvothermal synthesis with/without the assistance of microwave

Solvothermal reaction assisted with microwave leads to the formation of two unique heterometallic cubic clusters [Ni3M′(L)3(OH)(CH3CN)3]2·CH3CN (M′=K for 1 and M′=Na for 2, where L is an anion of 2-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-amino]-ethanesulfonate) with higher efficiency, yields and purity than those without it. The 6-metallacrown-3 [Ni3(OH)(L)3]− groups exhibit interesting ion trapping and self-assembly of size-different Na+ and K+ through form recognition and coordination activity in 1 and 2. The magnetic studies for 1 and 2 suggest that the {Ni3M′O4} (M′=K and Na) cores both display dominant ferromagnetic interactions from the nature of the binding modes of μ3-O (oxidophenyl) and μ3-OH.