Modeling spin interactions in a cyclic trimer and a cuboidal Co4O4 core with Co(II) in tetrahedral and octahedral environments

The X-ray crystallographic structures, the magnetic susceptibilities from 2 to 300 K, and a theoretical analysis of the magnetism for a triangular and a tetranuclear molecule consisting of linked high-spin cobalt(II) centers are described. The interpretation of the magnetic data for the triangular compound [Co(depa)Cl](3) (depa is the anion of 2,2'-(bis-4-ethylpyridyl)amine), which has tetrahedrally coordinated Co2+ ions, entails isotropic antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and antisymmetric exchange acting within the two low-lying spin doublets. Two strong isotropic ferromagnetic interactions have been modeled in the cuboidal compound Co-4(DPM)(4)(CH3O)(4)(CH3OH)(4) (DPM represents the anion of dipivaloylmethane), which has octahedral coordination, and the system can be approximately considered as two weakly coupled S = 3 species.