A study on two unusual heterohexanuclear [CuII4LnIII2] (LnIII = LaIII and CeIII) complexes with a N2O2- and O6-donor bis(salamo)-based ligand.

Two unusual heterobimetallic [CuII 4 LnIII 2 ] complexes were constructed from a N 2 O 2 - and O 6 -donor bis(salamo)-based ligand (H 4 L), and characterized structurally. The intermolecular interactions were quantitatively analyzed by Hirshfeld surfaces, as well as, fluorescence properties have also been studied. [Display omitted] • Two structurally novel heterobimetallic hexanuclear [CuII 4 LnIII 2 ] complexes were prepared using a designed N 2 O 2 - and O 6 -donor bis(salamo)-based ligand. • The different natures of three-compartmental H 4 L lead to the site‐selective introduction of two various metalII/III atoms. • Quantitative analyses of intermolecular interactions were evaluated by Hirshfeld surfaces analyses. • The fluorescence properties were further discussed. Two unusual heterobimetallic [CuII 4 LnIII 2 ] complexes, [{Cu 4 (L) 2 La 2 (ƞ 2-NO 3) 6 (EtOH)}]·2Me 2 CO (1) and [{Cu 4 (L) 2 Ce 2 (ƞ 2-NO 3) 6 (EtOH)} 2 ]·4Me 2 CO·MeOH (2) were constructed from a N 2 O 2 - and O 6 -donor bis(salamo)-based ligand (H 4 L). The structures were characterized by physical chemistry and spectroscopy methods. The two complexes 1 and 2 have similar structures, two heterotrinuclear parts with the same structure are linked by the coordination between one CuII atom and oxime-type oxygen atoms to obtain the heterohexanuclear complexes 1 and 2. Four penta-coordinate CuII atoms are located at the N 2 O 2 cavities of the ligand (L)4- units, two LaIII/CeIII atoms are surrounded by the open-chain 18-crown-6 (O 6) coordination environment. At the same time, eight bridged phenol oxygen atoms connect the six CuII/LnIII atoms. Infinite three-dimensional supra-molecular structures are formed in complexes 1 and 2 through H-bonds. The intermolecular interactions were quantitatively analyzed by Hirshfeld surfaces, as well as, fluorescence properties have also been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]