The reaction of 2-methoxy-6-[{2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethylimino}methyl]
phenol (LH
3
) with lanthanide metal salts followed by the
addition of nickel acetate allowed isolation of a family of octanuclear
complexes, [Ni
4
Ln
4
(μ
2
-OH)
2
(μ
3
-OH)
4
(μ-OOCCH
3
)
8
(LH
2
)
4
]·(OH)
2
·
x
H
2
O. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies
of these complexes reveal that their central metallic core consists
of two tetranuclear [Ni
2
Ln
2
O
4
] cubane
subunits fused together by acetate and hydroxide bridges. The magnetic
study of these complexes reveals a ferromagnetic interaction between
the Ln
III
and the Ni
II
center. The magnitude
of exchange coupling between the Ni
II
and Ln
III
center, parametrized from the magnetic data of the Gd analogue,
gives
J
= +0.86 cm
–1
. The magneto
caloric effect, studied for the Ni
II
4
Gd
III
4
complex, shows a maximum of magnetic entropy
change, −Δ
S
m
= 22.58 J kg
–1
K
–1
at 3 K for an applied external
field of 5 T.