Four rare structurally characterized hetero-pentanuclear [ZnLn] bis(salamo)-type complexes: syntheses, crystal structures and spectroscopic properties.

Four new hetero-pentanuclear 3d-4f complexes [Zn(L)La(NO)(OEt)(HO)] (1), [Zn(L)Ce(NO)(OMe)(MeOH)] (2), [Zn(L)Pr(NO)(OEt)(EtOH)] (3) and [Zn(L)Nd(NO)(OMe)(MeOH)] (4) were synthesized by the reactions of a newly synthesized octadentate bis(salamo)-based tetraoxime ligand (HL) with Zn(OAc)·2HO and Ln(NO)·6HO (Ln = La, Ce, Pr and Nd), respectively, and characterized elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The X-ray crystallographic investigation revealed that all Zn ions were located in NO coordination spheres, and possessed a trigonal bipyramid coordination environment. The Ln ion lay in an O coordination sphere, and adopted a distorted square antiprismatic coordination environment.