Wheel-type heterometallic ferromagnetic clusters: [Ni 7-x M x (HL) 6 (μ 3 -OMe) 4 (μ 3 -OH) 2 ]Cl 2 (M = Zn, Co, Mn; x = 1, 3)

Wheel-type heptanuclear heterometallic clusters of stoichiometry [Ni7-xMx(HL)6(μ3-OMe)4(μ3-OH)2]Cl2 (L = 1-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzamido)-2-(benzylideneamino)ethane; M = Zn2+, Co2+, Mn2+; x = 1, 3) were synthesized, and their metal ion dependent ferromagnetic properties were investigated. It was demonstrated that the central position of each cluster was occupied by a Ni2+ ion while other metal ions (Zn2+, Co2+ or Mn2+) were accommodated in peripheral positions. The magnetic interactions, anisotropy and magnetization of the resultant clusters were all influenced by the combinations of metal ions present.