One-dimensional ferromagnetically coupled bimetallic chains constructed with trans-[Ru(acac)2(CN)2]-: syntheses, structures, magnetic properties, and density functional theoretical study.

Four cyano-bridged 1D bimetallic polymers have been prepared by using the paramagnetic building block trans-[Ru(acac)(2)(CN)(2)](-) (Hacac=acetylacetone): {[{Ni(tren)}{Ru(acac)(2)(CN)(2)}][ClO(4)].CH(3)OH}(n) (1) (tren=tris(2-aminoethyl)amine), {[{Ni(cyclen)}{Ru(acac)(2)(CN)(2)}][ClO(4)].CH(3)OH}(n) (2) (cyclen=1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane), {[{Fe(salen)}{Ru(acac)(2)(CN)(2)}]}(n) (3) (salen(2-)=N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-o-ethyldiamine dianion) and [{Mn(5,5'-Me(2)salen)}(2){Ru(acac)(2)(CN)(2)}][Ru(acac)(2)(CN)(2)].2CH(3)OH (4) (5,5'-Me(2)salen=N,N'-bis(5,5'-dimethylsalicylidene)-o-ethylenediimine). Compounds 1 and 2 are 1D, zigzagged NiRu chains that exhibit ferromagnetic coupling between Ni(II) and Ru(III) ions through cyano bridges with J=+1.92 cm(-1), zJ'=-1.37 cm(-1), g=2.20 for 1 and J=+0.85 cm(-1), zJ'=-0.16 cm(-1), g=2.24 for 2. Compound 3 has a 1D linear chain structure that exhibits intrachain ferromagnetic coupling (J=+0.62 cm(-1), zJ'=-0.09 cm(-1), g=2.08), but antiferromagnetic coupling occurs between FeRu chains, leading to metamagnetic behavior with T(N)=2.6 K. In compound 4, two Mn(III) ions are coordinated to trans-[Ru(acac)(2)(CN)(2)](-) to form trinuclear Mn(2)Ru units, which are linked together by pi-pi stacking and weak Mn...O* interactions to form a 1D chain. Compound 4 shows slow magnetic relaxation below 3.0 K with phi=0.25, characteristic of superparamagnetic behavior. The Mn(III)...Ru(III) coupling constant (through cyano bridges) and the Mn(III)...Mn(III) coupling constant (between the trimers) are +0.87 and +0.24 cm(-1), respectively. Compound 4 is a novel single-chain magnet built from Mn(2)Ru trimers through noncovalent interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) combined with the broken symmetry state method was used to calculate the molecular magnetic orbitals and the magnetic exchange interactions between Ru(III) and M (M=Ni(II), Fe(III), and Mn(III)) ions. To explain the somewhat unexpected ferromagnetic coupling between low-spin Ru(III) and high-spin Fe(III) and Mn(III) ions in compounds 3 and 4, respectively, it is proposed that apart from the relative symmetries, the relative energies of the magnetic orbitals may also be important in determining the overall magnetic coupling in these bimetallic assemblies.