Thioalcohols as bridging ligands in polynuclear PrIII/CuII and BaII/CuII complexes.: Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of Pr2Cu4(tde)3(Htde)2(hfacac)4(μ6-O), Ba2Cu2(Htde)2(hfacac)4 and Cu4(tde)2(hfacac)4, (H2tde = HOCH2CH2SCH2CH2OH)

The syntheses of heterometallic compounds involving praseodymium, barium and copper ions by using 2,2'-thiodiethanol (H(2)tde) as the bridging ligand have been investigated. Three new polynuclear compounds, Pr2Cu4(tde)(3)(Htde)(2)(hfacac)(4)(mu(6)-O) 1, Ba2Cu2(Htde)(2)(hfacac)(4) 2 and Cu-4(tde)(2)(hfacac)(4) 3 have been obtained and characterized structurally. The metal atoms in 1 have an octahedral arrangement with the two Pr-III occupying two opposite vertices. In the center of the octahedron is a mu(6)-oxygen atom. The metal atoms in 2 have a rhombic arrangement with a long Cu ... Cu separation distance (6.082 Angstrom). The metal ions in 3 also have a rhombic arrangement with the copper atoms in close proximity to each other. The sulfur atoms of the Htde(-) or tde(2-) ligand are bound exclusively to copper centers in all three compounds. The Htde(-) and tde(2-) ligands display versatile bonding modes in the three compounds. Antiferromagnetic exchanges dominate in these compounds.