A Mn^III₂Ni^II single-chain magnet separated by a thick isolating network of BPh₄⁻ anions₂Ni^II single-chain magnet separated by a thick isolating network of BPh₄⁻ anions

The assembly reaction of a Mn(iii) salen-type dimeric complex, [Mn^III₂(saltmen)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (saltmen²⁻ = N, N′-(1,1,2,2-tetramethylethylene)bis(salycylideneiminate)), and a Ni(ii) oximato complex, [Ni^II(pao)₂(phen)] (pao⁻ = pyridine-2-aldoximate; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), in the presence of NaBPh₄ yielded a heterometallic chain of [Mn^III₂(saltmen)₂Ni^II(pao)₂(phen)](BPh₄)₂ (Mn₂Ni-BPh₄) having a [–Mn^III–ON–Ni^II–NO–Mn^III–(O_Ph)₂–] repeating unit surrounded by a “zeolite-like” network of BPh₄⁻ anions. Thanks to such bulky ion-walls, each chain is not only structurally separated with a nearest inter-chain metal⋯metal distance of 14.4 Å (Mn⋯Ni) but also magnetically extremely well isolated. This magnetic isolation and the ferromagnetic interactions between S = 3 anisotropic units constituting the chain play key roles that induce single-chain magnet behavior in this system.