Intralayer antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic couplings could be correctly predicted by the spin polarization mechanism for the sheetlike polymers [Co(NCS)2(pyz)2]n and [Co(NCS)2(pym)2]n (structure depicted on the right). These structurally characterized compounds and the monomeric complex [Co(NCS)2(pyd)4], which was synthesized for comparison, were obtained from solutions containing Co(NCS)2 and pyrazine (pyr), pyrimidine (pym), or pyridazine (pyd) in methanol.

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The one-dimensional chain complex [Cu(2)(&mgr;(2)-1,1-N(3))(2)(&mgr;(2)-1,3-NO(3))(2)(&mgr;(2)-1,3-Me(3)NCH(2)CO(2))(2)](n)() (1) contains three different bridge groups, &mgr;(2)-1,1-azide (end-on), &mgr;(2)-nitrate, and &mgr;(2)-syn,syn-carboxylate, arranged so that the azide and carboxylate groups bridge equatorially and dictate the intrachain magnetic behavior between the copper magnetic orbitals. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies at low field, and magnetization studies at variable field, reveal dominant intrachain ferromagnetism (J = 26 cm(-)(1)) but also much weaker interchain ferromagnetism (Θ = 2.3 K) and antiferromagnetism (J(eff) = -0.18 cm(-)(1)). The structure has been rationalized in terms of a layered magnetic model with antiferromagnetic coupling between ferromagnetically coupled layers, leading to metamagnetic behavior. The intrachain ferromagnetism is explained satisfactorily using extended Hückel molecular orbital calculations, which show clearly that orbital countercomplementarity exists on the part of the two magnetic bridge groups (azide and carboxylate), despite the very large azide bridge angle (119.5 degrees ).

Two nickel(II) complexes of formula (H(3)dien)(2)[Ni(2)(ox)(5)].12H(2)O (1) and [Ni(2)(dien)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(ox)]Cl(2) (2) (dien = diethylenetriamine and ox = oxalate dianion) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Abnn, with a = 15.386(4) Å, b = 15.710(4) Å, c = 17.071(4) Å, and Z = 4. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 10.579(1) Å, b = 7.258(1) Å, c = 13.326(1) Å, beta = 93.52(3) degrees, and Z = 2. The structures of 1 and 2 consist of dinuclear oxalato-bridged nickel(II) units which contain bidentate oxalate (1) and tridentate dien in the fac-conformation (2) as terminal ligands. Both features, oxalato as a peripheral ligand and dien in the fac-conformation (instead of its usual mer-conformation), are unprecedented in the coordination chemistry of nickel(II). The nickel atom is six-coordinated in both compounds, the chromophores being NiO(6) (1) and NiN(3)O(3) (2). The Ni-O(ox) bond distances at the bridge (2.072(4) Å in 1 and 2.11(1) and 2.125(9) Å in 2) are somewhat longer than those concerning the terminal oxalate (2.037(5) and 2.035(3) Å in 1). Magnetic susceptibility data of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 4.2-300 K show the occurrence of intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling with J = -22.8 (1) and -28.8 (2) cm(-)(1) (J being the parameter of the exchange Hamiltonian H = -JS(A).S(B)). The observed value of -J in the investigated oxalato-bridged nickel(II) complexes, which can vary from 22 to 39 cm(-)(1), is strongly dependent on the nature of the donor atoms from the peripheral ligands. This influence has been analyzed and rationalized through extended Hückel calculations.