Abstract
The solvothermal reaction between FeCl(3)·6H(2)O, NiCl(2)·6H(2)O, 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde, and glycine (gly) in MeOH results in the formation of the trinuclear heterometallic cluster [Fe(ΙΙΙ) (2)Ni(ΙΙ)(L(1))(4)(MeOH)(4)] (1) in good yield, while the same reaction upon replacing gly with methyl-alanine (mAla), results in the formation of the closely related quasi 1D coordination polymer {[Fe(ΙΙΙ) (2)Ni(ΙΙ)(L(2))(4)(MeOH)(2)](n)} (2) (L(1), L(2): the dianionic form of the Schiff-base ligand derived from the condensation of 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde and gly (L(1) for 1), or mAla (L(2) for 2)). The structure of 1 describes a linear trimetallic {Fe(III) (2)Ni} unit, whereas complex 2 consists of repeating linear {Fe(III) (2)Ni} units with each one connected to two neighboring units via four coordination bonds, forming a quasi-1D chain. The structural similarity between complex 1 and the repeating unit of complex 2 is remarkable. However, their magnetic properties differ significantly, with complex 1 displaying dominant ferromagnetic interactions, and complex 2 showing antiferromagnetic interactions.