Crystal structure and magnetic properties of a linear tetranuclear Co(II) cluster.

Polynuclear complexes are an important class of inorganic functional materials and are of interest particularly for their applications in molecular magnets. Multidentate chelating ligands play an important role in the design and syntheses of polynuclear metal clusters. A novel linear tetranuclear Co(II) cluster, namely bis{μ3-(E)-2-[(2-oxidobenzylidene)amino]phenolato}bis{μ2-(E)-2-[(2-oxidobenzylidene)amino]phenolato}bis(1,10-phenanthroline)tetracobalt(II), [Co4(C14H11NO2)4(C12H8N2)2], was prepared under solvothermal conditions through a mixed-ligand synthetic strategy.