Synthesis and magnetothermal properties of a ferromagnetically coupled Ni(II)-Gd(III)-Ni(II) cluster.

A linear trimeric cluster of molecular formula [Ni2Gd(L(-))6](NO3) (1) (L(-) = (C14H12NO2) has been isolated with its structure determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 show that the nickel and gadolinium ions are coupled ferromagnetically, with a ground total spin state (S) of 11/2. Best fit spin Hamiltonian parameters obtained for 1 are J(1(Ni-Gd)) = +0.