Crystal engineering to control the magnetic interaction between weak ferromagnetic single-chain magnets assembled in a 3D framework

A new single-chain-magnet (SCM), [Co4(OMe)3(HCO2)2(L)3·DMF]n, (L = 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzolate) (2), was constructed by changing the spacers of a weak ferromagnetic single-chain magnet [Co8(OMe)6(HCO2)4(isonic)6·H2O]n (1). By contrasting the magnetism of the two complexes, it is found that the longer the linker the stronger the magnetic properties.