Synthesis, crystal and network structures, and magnetic properties of a hybrid layered compound:: [K(18-cr)(2-PrOH)2][{Mn(acacen)}2{Fe(CN)6}] (18-cr=18-crown-6-ether, acacen=N,N′-ethylenebis(acetylacetonylideneiminate))

A hybrid layered compound [{K(18-cr)(2-PrOH)(2)}{Mn(acacen)}(2){Fe(CN)(6)}] has been prepared by the reaction of [Mn(acacen)(Cl)] with [K(18-cr)(H2O)(2)](3)[Fe(CN)(6)]. 3H(2)O in an ethanol/2-propanol mixed solvent (18-cr = 18-crown-6-ether, acacen = N,N'-ethylenebis(acetylacetonylidene)). It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/a with cell dimensions of a = 13.272(3) Angstrom, b = 15.768 (2) Angstrom, c = 14.771(2) Angstrom, beta = 105.6 1(1)degrees, Z = 2. It assumes a hybrid layered structure of alternating arrays of two types of layers. One of the layers is formed by the anionic part [{Mn(acacen)}(2){Fe(CN)(6)}](n)(n-), where [Fe(CN)(6)](3-) coordinates through its four cyanide groups on a plane to the axial sites of four [Mn(acacen)](+) entities. The two-dimensional layer consists of the cyclic octamer [-Mn-NC-Fe-CN-](4) having the Fe ions at the corners and the Mn ions on the edges of a deformed square. Another layer is formed by the cationic part [K(18-cr)(2-PrOH)(2)](+) that has a hexagonal-bipyramidal geometry about the metal with two 2-PrOH molecules at the apexes of the nearly planar [K(18-cr)](+). The anionic and cationic layers are combined by the hydrogen bond between the cyanide groups (free from coordination) of the anionic layer and the 2-propanol groups of the cationic layer with bond distance of N ... O = 2.861(5) Angstrom. Magnetic studies (magnetic susceptibility vs T, field-cooled magnetization vs T, saturation magnetization vs H) indicate that the compound is a metamagnet with a Neel temperature T-N = 5.0 K, showing the onset of ferromagnetic ordering within the anionic layer and an antiferromagnetic interlayer interaction. Magnetization as a fund-ion of the applied magnetic field indicates a spin-flipping from antiferromagnetic arrangement to ferromagnetic arrangement between the layers around 1200 Oe and exhibits hysteresis behavior.