New synthetic route toward heterometallic 3d-3d' and 3d-4f single-molecule magnets. The first Co(II)-Mn(III) heterometallic complex.

Four tetranuclear heterometallic complexes, [Co(II)2Mn2(III)(dpm)4(MeO)6] (1) and [Ln(III)2Mn(III)2(dpm)6(MeO)6(MeOH)n], where Ln = Gd (2, n = 2), Tb (3, n = 2), and Dy (4, n = 0), have been obtained following the same general synthetic route, namely, the one-pot reaction between 2,2,6,6-tetrametil-3,5-heptanodione (Hdpm), MnCl2 and CoCl2 or Ln(NO3)3 in the presence of sodium methoxide. Within the four compounds, the metal ions bridged by methoxide ligands display a defect-diheterocubane core. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 show slow relaxation of the magnetization below 4 K.