Crystal structure and magnetic properties of a heteronuclear, gadolinium–zinc carboxylate complex

Abstract

A novel heteronuclear complex, [Gd₂Zn₂L₁₀(bipy)(H₂O)₂]₂ (HL = α-methylacrylic acid, bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine), was synthesized and characterized. Its structure, determined by X-ray diffraction, reveals a discrete octanuclear molecule, in which two Zn^II ions are linked by a bipy molecule and Gd^III ions, and Gd^III and Zn^II ions are bridged by bidentate α-methylacrylato groups. The complex crystallizes in space group P

with Z = 1, a = 13.4504(6), b = 14.9697(5), c = 16.4374(5) Å, α = 64.212(3), β = 89.727(2), γ = 86.241(1)°. The structure was refined to R = 0.0303 for 8925 observed reflections. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of the complex shows that a weak intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction exists as well as an intermolecular antiferromagnetic interaction.

Keywords:

• Gadolinium
• Zinc
• Heteronuclear
• Magnetic properties
• Crystal structure