Pentanuclear Thorium(IV) Coordination Cluster from the Use of Di(2-pyridyl) Ketone.

The Th(NO3)4·5H2O/di(2-pyridyl) ketone [(py)2CO] reaction system gives a pentanuclear cluster containing the doubly deprotonated form of the gem-diol derivative of the ligand. The cluster consists of a tetrahedral arrangement of four ThIV ions centered on the fifth ion, which is the first characterized ThIV5 complex. The analysis of its structure reveals that this is a Kuratowski-type coordination compound.

Employment of a new tripodal ligand for the synthesis of cobalt(II/III), nickel(II), and copper(II) clusters: magnetic, optical, and thermal properties.

The employment of 2-(ß-naphthalideneamino)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1-propanol (LH(3)) in cobalt, nickel, and copper chemistry has led to the isolation of five new metallic complexes with interesting magnetic properties. More specifically, the reaction of Co(OAc)(2)·4H(2)O with LH(3) in MeOH in the presence of NEt(3) under solvothermal conditions forms the complex [Co(III)(2)Co(II)(3)(L)(2)(LH)(2)(L')(OAc)]·8.5MeOH (1·8.5MeOH; L' = monoanion of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde), while in nickel chemistry, a similar reaction of Ni(OAc)(2)·6H(2)O with LH(3) in MeCN in the presence of NEt(3) under high pressure/temperature forms the complex [Ni(II)(LH(2))(2)]·2MeCN (2·2MeCN). Repeating the same reaction in MeOH and switching from Ni(OAc)(2)·4H(2)O to NiSO(4)·4H(2)O produces the complex [Ni(II)(4)(HL)(3)(OMe)(MeOH)(3)](SO(4))(0.5)·2MeOH (3·2MeOH) under solvothermal conditions. Furthermore, in copper chemistry, the reaction of Cu(2)(OAc)(4)·2H(2)O with LH(3) in the presence of NEt(3) in MeOH under solvothermal conditions affords the complex [Cu(II)(4)(LH)(4)] (4), while the same reaction under ambient temperature and pressure conditions forms [Cu(II)(4)(LH)(4)] ·3.5MeOH·2.25H(2)O (5·3.5MeOH·2.25H(2)O). Complex 1 is a mixed-valent [Co(III)(2)Co(II)(3)] complex, consisting of three edge-sharing [Co(3)] triangles. Complex 2 is a nickel(II) monomer in which the central metal is found in an octahedral geometry, while complex 3 describes a [Ni(II)(4)] cubane. Complexes 4 and 5 may be considered as structural isomers because they possess the same formulas but different topologies: 4 describes a highly distorted [Cu(II)(4)(OR)(4)](4+) eight-membered ring, while 5 consists of a distorted [Cu(II)(4)(µ(3)-OR)(4)](4+) cubane. In addition, 5 can be converted to 4 in excellent yield under solvothermal conditions. Direct-current magnetic susceptibility studies have been carried out in the 5-300 K range for complexes 1 and 3-5, revealing the possibility of a high-spin ground state for 1, an S = 4 ground state for 2, and diamagnetic ground states for 4 and 5.