Fine tuning of the coordination environments and magnetic properties of first row transition metal ions with 5-methylisophthalate and 2,2′-bipyridine/phenanthroline

Twelve coordination compounds of Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co ²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺, with mixed organic ligands 5-methylisophthalic acid, 2,2′-bipyridine or phenanthroline, have been hydrothermally synthesised and characterised. The magnetic properties of the Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ compounds have been investigated. Structure analysis shows that the assemblies with a bridging ligand possessing a smaller methyl group (compared to the tert-butyl group) afford coordination compounds containing multinuclear metal centres and structures of higher dimension. The result shows that the structures and properties of the metal-organic materials can be finely tuned by the substituent on the organic bridging ligands.