[Cu3(Hmesox)3]3-: a precursor for the rational design of chiral molecule-based magnets (H4mesox = 2-dihydroxymalonic acid).

Two new compounds K(3)[Cu(3)(Hmesox)(3)(H(2)O)] x 4 H(2)O (1) and {(PPh(4))(2)[CoCu(3)(Hmesox)(3)Cl]} (2) [H(4)mesox = mesoxalic acid (2-dihydroxymalonic acid) and PPh(4)(+) = tetraphenylphosphonium cation] have been prepared and magneto-structurally characterized. Compound 1 contains the [Cu(3)(Hmesox)(3)](3-) entity which can be considered as a new precursor for molecular magnetism. In 1 the triangular arrangement of three copper(II) ions bridged by alkoxo groups are further connected to a symmetry-related tricopper(II) unit through a double oxo(carboxylate) bridge. The resulting hexacopper(II) entities are joined further through anti-syn carboxylate groups into an anionic three-dimensional network of formula [Cu(3)(Hmesox)(3)(H(2)O)](n)(3n-) whose charge is neutralized by univalent potassium cations. The strong decrease of the chi(M)T product [per three copper(II) ions] in the high temperature range with the occurrence of a plateau for a spin doublet at T < 65 K is as expected for the coexistence of two antiferromagnetic interactions within the quasi isosceles tricopper(II) core of 1 [J = -194(1) cm(-1) and j = -3(4) cm(-1), the Hamiltonian being defined as H = -J(S(1) x S(2) + S(2) x S(3)) - j(S(1) x S(2))]. Compound 2 exhibits a chiral three-dimensional structure which is made up of an anionic [Co(II)Cu(II)(3)(mu(3)-Cl)(Hmesox)(3)](n)(2n-) framework with a (10,3)-a topology whose cavities are filled by PPh(4)(+) cations. The [Cu(II)(3)(mu(3)-Cl)(Hmesox)(3)](3-) tricopper(II) unit in 2 acts as a tris-bidentate ligand through the Hmesox groups toward three cobalt(II) ions, these latter ones being tris-chelated. Alternating current (ac) and direct current (dc) magnetic susceptibility measurements of 2 show a ferrimagnetic behavior with a magnetic ordering at T(c) = 18.5 K and a coercive field H(c) = 5000 G. As shown by the magneto-structural study of 2, the use as a ligand of 1 versus metal ions other than cobalt(II) or preformed complexes whose coordination sphere is partially blocked represents a new and rational preparative route toward multifunctional heterometallic compounds.