A Molecular Chain of Four CoII Ions Stabilized by a Tris-Pyridyl/Bis-β-Diketonate Ligand

The synthesis and characterization of a tris-pyridyl/bis-beta-diketone molecule ( H2L) is reported. This compound acts as a hexadentate ligand towards Co-II to facilitate the assembly of a tetranuclear molecular chain of closely spaced metals with formula [Co4L2( MeOH)(8)](NO3)(4) (1), which exhibits a very flat [Co4L2](4+) platform, as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography. Complex 1 readily exchanges axial methanol ligands with water molecules. The bulk magnetization of the resulting hydrate, 1a, shows that the metals in the [Co4L2](4+) moiety exhibit spin-orbit coupling and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions.