Control of Interchain Antiferromagnetic Coupling in Porous Co(II)-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks by Tuning the Aromatic Linker Length: How Far Does Magnetic Interaction Propagate?

Three MOF-74-type Co(II) frameworks with one-dimensional hexagonal channels have been prepared. Co(II) spins in a chain are ferromagnetically coupled through carboxylate and phenoxide bridges. Interchain antiferromagnetic couplings via aromatic ring pathways operate over a Co–Co length shorter than ∼10.9 A, resulting in a field-induced metamagnetic transition, while being absent over lengths longer than ∼14.7 A.