Structure and Magnetic Properties of a Trinuclear Nickel(II) Complex Constructed by bpca – Anions

The trinuclear Ni II cluster [Ni 3 (bpca) 2 (bpy) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ](NO 3 ) 4 · H 2 O ( 1 ) (bpca – = anion of bis(2‐pyridylcarbonyl)amine, bpy = 2, 2′‐bipyridine) was isolated. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that three crystallographically independent Ni II ions are located in a six‐coordinate distorted octahedral environment, bridged by the organic spacer bpca – . The crystal lattice is stabilized by hydrogen bonds, which are linking the Ni 3 cations and NO 3 – anions into a three‐dimensional framework. Variable‐temperature magnetic susceptibility for complex 1 in the range 2–300 K indicates the presence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions in the Ni 3 unit with J = –0.67 cm –1 .