Synthesis, Magnetic and High-Field EPR Investigation of Two Tetranuclear Ni^II-Based Complexes

Two tetranuclear compounds with a cubane-like structure were synthesized from a one-pot reaction between Ni^II and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione (Hdpm) for 1 or 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione (Hbta) for 2 in the presence of sodium methoxide. The crystal structures of both compounds have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and their magnetic properties have been studied by SQUID magnetometry as well as by high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectroscopy. For 1, the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility can be fitted by taking into account Ni···Ni ferromagnetic interactions, which leads to an S = 4 ground-state spin. For 2, both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions are present. However, the latter are dominant, which also leads to an S = 4 ground-state spin, in good agreement with the HFEPR study.