Synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties of dicopper(II) and dinickel(II) complexes with a new bis(macrocycle), 7,7′-(2-hydoxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis{3,7,11,17-tetraazabicyclo[11.3.1]- heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene}

A new bis(macrocycle) ligand, 7,7′-(2-hydoxypropane-1,3-diyl)-bis{3,7,11,17-tetraazabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene} (HL), and its dicopper(II) ([Cu2(HL)Cl2](NO3)2 · 4H2O (4a), [Cu2(HL)I2]I2 · H2O (4b)) and dinickel(II) ([Ni2(L)(OH2)](ClO4)3 (5a), [Ni2(L)(OH2)]I3 · 2H2O (5b), [Ni2(L)N3](N3)2 · 7H2O (5c)) complexes have been synthesized. The alkoxide bridged face-to-face structure of the dinickel(II) complex 5c has been revealed by X-ray crystallography, as well as the “half-opened clamshell” form of the bis(macrocyclic) dicopper(II) complex 4b. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies have indicated that there exists intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling (J=−33.8 cm−1 (5a), −32.5 cm−1 (5b), and −29.7 cm−1 (5c)) between the two nickel(II) ions in the nickel(II) complexes.