Nickel(II) Chain with Alternating End-On/End-to-End Single Azido Bridges:  A Combined Structural, Magnetic, and Theoretical Study

The reaction of a tridentate Schiff base LH (L-: 1,1,1-trifluoro-7-(dimethylamino)-4-methyl-5-aza-3-hepten-2-onato) with a Ni(II) salt in the presence of azide salt has led to a new alternating end-on (EO)/end-to-end (EE) azido-bridged Ni(II) chain of formula {[Ni2(micro1,1-N3)(micro1,3-N3)(L)2(MeOH)2]}n. Its originality lies in the presence of single EE and EO coordination modes for the azide. It crystallizes in the C2/c space group, a=21.570(7) A, b=10.79(1) A, c=16.154(5) A, beta=120.81(2) degrees, Z=4. The chain can be viewed as {Ni2(N3)(L)2(MeOH)2}+ dimeric units linked to each other in a zigzag pattern by the other azide. Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements have been performed and revealed that the chain can magnetically be depicted as isolated {Ni2(N3)} units exhibiting antiferromagnetic interaction (JAF approximately -37 cm(-1)). Ab initio calculations confirmed the efficient magnetic coupling through the EE bridge and vanishingly small EO {Ni2(micro1,1-N3)} interactions.