Structure, magnetism and optical properties of achiral and chiral two-dimensional oxalate-bridged anionic networks with symmetric and asymmetric ammonium cations

A series of two-dimensional (2D) oxalate-based compounds, namely [N(n-C4H9)4][M(II)Cr(III)(ox)3] (M(II) = Mn, Fe; ox = C2O4(2-)) and [N(C2H5)(n-C3H7)(n-C4H9)(n-C5H11)][M(II)M(III)(ox)(3)] ((M(II), M(III)) =(Mn, Cr), (Fe, Cr), (Mn, Fe)) were synthesised starting from racemic tris(oxalato)metalate: rac-[M(III)(ox)3]3- (M(III) = Cr, Fe). For Cr(III), the synthesis has been undertaken starting from resolved (Delta)- or (Lambda)-[Cr(III)(ox)3]3-. The natural circular dichroism measurements assess the enantioselectivity of the synthesis. X-Ray powder diffraction analysis has revealed that, when racemic reagents are used to synthesise Mn(II) containing compounds, a R3c achiral space group is found. In contrast a P6(3) chiral space group is found when starting from (Delta)- or (Lambda)-[Cr(III)(ox)3]3-. Surprisingly, whatever the optical purity of the starting building block, all Fe(II) containing compounds crystallise in the P6(3) chiral space group. The magnetic properties of the synthesised compounds confirm that these compounds are ferromagnets for M(III)= Cr. For M(II)= Mn, Theta ranges between 9 and 11 K and T(c) equals 6 K. For M(II)= Fe, Theta ranges between 14 and 16 K and Tc between 11 and 12 K. [N(C2H5)(n-C3H7)(n-C4H9)(n-C5H11)][Mn(II)Fe(III)(ox)3] is an antiferromagnet with Theta = - 107 K and T(N) = 29 K.