Triangular nickel complexes derived of 2-pyridylcyanoxime : an approach to the magnetic properties of the {Ni3(µ3-OH)(pyC{R}NO)3}2+ core

A series of nickel complexes with nuclearity ranging from Ni3 to Ni6 have been obtained by treatment of a variety of nickel salts with the 2-pyridylcyanoxime ligand. The reported compounds have as a common structural feature the triangular arrangement of nickel cations bridged by a central m3-oxo/alkoxo ligand. These compounds are simultaneously the first nickel derivatives of the 2-pyridylcyanoxime ligand and the first examples of isolated, m3-O triangular pyridyloximate nickel complexes. Magnetic mea- ACHTUNGTRENUNGsurements reveal antiferromagnetic interactions promoted by the m3-O and oximato superexchange pathways and comparison of the experimental structural and magnetic data with DFT calculations give an in-depth explanation of the factors that determine the magnetic interaction in this kind of system.