Exploring the influence of counter anions on the structure and magnetic properties of two classical Ni-7 disk-like clusters

We present the synthesis, characterization of two heptanuclear coordination nickel(II) clusters: [Ni7(bicH)6].0.5 [NiCl4].Cl.12H2O (1) and [Ni7(bicH)6].2NO3 (2), in which bicH3 = N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine. They consist of analogous structural disk-like cores that are constructed by Ni(II) ions and structure directing ligand bicH (doubly deprotonated form of bicH3). They have different magnetic properties. Whereas there is the absence of the out of phase ac susceptibility (chi '') for compound 1, compound 2 has slight chi '' signals that exhibit spin glasses behavior. Interestingly, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) indicates that the both heptanuclear clusters retain their compositions in acetonitrile solution.