Dimensionality of MnIICuII bimetallic compounds and design of molecular-based magnets

Four compounds have been synthesized, the formulas of which are MnCu(opba)(DMSO) 3 (1), MnCu(opba)-0.7DMSO (2), (NBu 4 ) 2 Mn 2 [Cu(opba)] 3 .6DMSO.H 2 O (3), and (NBu 4 ) 2 [Mn 2 Cu(opba)] 3 (4), with opba standing for o-phenylenebis(oxamato). The crystal structure of 1 has been determined. I crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2 1 /n. The lattice parameters are a=16.966(7) A, b=8.367(1) A, c=18.258(7) A, and Z=4. Thestructure consists of well-separated Mn II Cu II zigzag chains