In search of 3d/4f-metal single-molecule magnets: Nickel(II)/lanthanide(III) coordination clusters

The importance of 3d/4f-metal cluster chemistry is outlined, and the employment of 2-pyridyl ketone- and 2-pyridyl oxime-based ligands for the preparation of low-nuclearity Ni II /Ln III complexes (Ln = lanthanide) is reviewed. The synthetic utility of the "metal com- plexes as ligands" and "one-pot" approaches is critically discussed. The small nuclearity of the products permits the in-depth analysis of their magnetic properties.