The use has been explored in Mn cluster chemistry of N(3)(-) or Cl(-) in combination with N-methyldiethanolamine (mdaH(2)) or triethanolamine (teaH(3)). The reactions of Mn(ClO(4))(2).6H(2)O, NEt(3), NaN(3), and either mdaH(2) or teaH(3) (1:2:1:2) in DMF/MeOH afford {[Na(MeOH)(3)][Mn(7)(N(3))(6)(mda)(6)]}(n) (1) and {Na[Mn(7)(N(3))(6)(teaH)(6)]}(n) (2), respectively, whereas the 2:1:1 reaction of MnCl(2).4H(2)O, mdaH(2), and NEt(3) in MeCN gives (NHEt(3))[Mn(7)Cl(6)(mda)(6)] (3). Similar reactions using NBu(n)(4)N(3) in place of NaN(3) gave (NHEt(3))[Mn(7)(N(3))(6)(mda)(6)] (4) and (NHEt(3))[Mn(7)(N(3))(6)(teaH)(6)] (5). The Mn(7) anions consist of a Mn(6) hexagon of alternating Mn(II) and Mn(III) ions surrounding a central Mn(II) ion. The remaining ligation is by six bridging and chelating mda(2-) or teaH(2-) groups, and either six terminal N(3)(-) (1, 2, 4, 5) or Cl(-) (3) ions. Each bridging mda(2-) or teaH(2-) ligand contains both mu- and mu(3)-O atoms, resulting in a similar, near-planar [Mn(7)(mu(3)-OR)(6)(mu-OR)(6)](5+) core for all three complexes. The Mn(7) anions of 1 and 2 are connected via Na(+) cations to yield one-dimensional zigzag chains and three-dimensional windmill-like "hexagons-of-hexagons", respectively. In contrast, the Mn(7) anion of 3 forms a strong hydrogen-bond between the NHEt(3)(+) cation and a terminal Cl(-) ion giving a discrete ion-pair. Variable-temperature, solid-state direct current (dc) and alternating current (ac) magnetization studies were carried out in the 5.0-300 K range. Fits of dc magnetization versus field (H) and temperature (T) data by matrix diagonalization gave S = 11, g = 1.95, D = -0.15 cm(-1) for 1, S = 16, g = 1.95, D = -0.02 cm(-1) for 2, and S = 11, g = 1.92, D = -0.13 cm(-1) for 3 (D is the axial zero-field splitting parameter). Complexes 4 and 5 were also found to possess S = 11 and S = 16 ground states, respectively. The different ground states of 1 and 2 were rationalized on the basis of the sign and magnitude of the various Mn(2) exchange parameters obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This analysis confirmed the presence of spin frustration effects, with the ground states being determined by the relative magnitude of the two weakest interactions. The combined results demonstrate the usefulness of N-based dipodal and tripodal alkoxide-based chelates as a route to structurally and magnetically interesting Mn clusters.

The S = 11 ground states of the Mn 7 family of mixed-valence complexes with a metal-centered hexagonal topology have been found by density functional theory calculations to arise by spin frustration involving small differences in the magnitudes of the two weakest interactions controlling the alignment of the central spin. Targeted structural perturbation has allowed a complex with the central spin flipped to be discovered, which thus possesses the maximum S = 16 ground state.

The syntheses, crystal structures, magnetochemical characterization, and theoretical calculations are reported for three new iron clusters [Fe 6O 2(NO3) 4(hmp) 8(H 2O) 2](NO3)2 (1), [Fe4(N3)6(hmp)6] (2), and [Fe8O3(OMe)(pdm)4(pdmH) 4(MeOH)2](ClO4)5 (3) (hmpH=2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine; pdmH2=2,6-pyridinedimethanol). The reaction of hmpH with iron(III) sources such as Fe(NO3) 3.9H2O in the presence of NEt 3 gave 1, whereas 2 was obtained from a similar reaction by adding an excess of NaN3. Complex 3 was obtained in good yield from the reaction of pdmH 2 with Fe(ClO4)3.6H2O in MeOH in the presence of an organic base. The complexes all possess extremely rare or novel core topologies. The core of 1 comprises two oxide-centered [Fe3(mu3-O)](7+) triangular units linked together at two of their apexes by two sets of alkoxide arms of hmp(-) ligands. Complex 2 contains a zigzag array of four Fe (III) atoms within an [Fe4(mu-OR) 6](6+) core, with the azide groups all bound terminally. Finally, complex 3 contains a central [Fe 4(mu4-O)](10+) tetrahedron linked to two oxide-centered [Fe3(mu3-O)](7+) triangular units. Variable-temperature, solid-state dc and ac magnetization studies were carried out on complexes 1-3 in the 5.0-300 K range. Fitting of the obtained magnetization versus field (H) and temperature (T) data by matrix diagonalization and including only axial anisotropy (zero-field splitting, ZFS) established that 1 possesses an S=3 ground-state spin, with g=2.08, and D=-0.44 cm(-1). The magnetic susceptibility data for 2 up to 300 K were fit by matrix diagonalization and gave J1=-9.2 cm(-1), J2=-12.5 cm(-1), and g=2.079, where J 1 and J 2 are the outer and middle nearest-neighbor exchange interactions, respectively. Thus, the interactions between the Fe(III) centers are all antiferromagnetic, giving an S=0 ground state for 2. Similarly, complex 3 was found to have an S=0 ground state. Theoretically computed values of the exchange constants in 2 were obtained with DFT calculations and the ZILSH method and were in good agreement with the values obtained from the experimental data. Exchange constants obtained with ZILSH for 3 successfully rationalized the experimental S = 0 ground state. The combined work demonstrates the ligating flexibility of pyridyl-alcohol chelates and their usefulness in the synthesis of new polynuclear Fex clusters without requiring the copresence of carboxylate ligands.