Trinuclear thiocyanate-bridged compounds of the type [ML]2[Mn(NCS)4](ClO4)2 (where M = Cu(II), Ni(II); L = N-dl-5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene).

The complexes of general formula [ML]2[Mn(NCS)4](ClO4)2 (where M = Cu(II), Ni(II); L = N-dl-5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene) were obtained and the crystal structures of both heteronuclear compounds were determined at 173 K. Complex [CuL]2[Mn(NCS)4](ClO4)2 (1) crystallizes in a monoclinic space group, C2/c, with a = 41.297(9) A, b = 7.571(2) A, c = 16.417(4) A, beta = 96.97(15) degrees, Z = 8, whereas complex [NiL]2[Mn(NCS)4](ClO4)2.H2O (2) crystallizes in a monoclinic space group, P2/c, with a = 21.018(5) A, b = 7.627(2) A, c = 16.295(4) A, beta = 104.47(1) degrees, Z = 4. The magnetic behaviour of (1) and (2) has been investigated over the temperature range 1.8-300 K. Complex (1) displays ferromagnetic coupling inside the trinuclear core of CuMnCu and compound (2) behaves like a mononuclear Mn(II) system. The magnetic properties of the second compound (2) with a similar trinuclear structure shows that Ni(II) ions have a diamagnetic character and a rather weak zero-field splitting at the central Mn(II) ion occurs. Finally, the magnitudes of the Cu(II)-M(II) interactions with M = Ni and Mn have been compared and qualitatively justified.