Molecule-Based Magnets: Ferro- and Antiferromagnetic Interactions in Nickel(II) Cyclohexasiloxanolate Sandwich Complexes

Ferromagnetic exchange-coupling interactions mediated by siloxanolate ligands have been detected in the two nickel(II) nanoscale clusters Na2[(PhSiO2)6Na4Ni4(OH)2(O2SiPh)6]. 16Bu(n)OH (1) and Na2[(PhSiO2)6Ni6(O2SiPh)6Cl].12CH3OH. H2O (2), which qualify as interesting precursors for new molecule-based magnetic materials. Complex 1 has an S = 4 spin ground state, whereas complex 2 has an S = 0 spin ground state. due to the presence of additional antiferromagnetic interactions through the encapsulated mu(6)-chloride ion