Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of a series of dinuclear heteroleptic Zn2+/Ln3+ Schiff base complexes: effect of lanthanide ions on the slow relaxation of magnetization.

We report an investigation on the synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of a series of heteroleptic Zn2+/Ln3+ complexes of the general formula [ZnLClLn(o-van)(H2O)(NO3)]·H2O (H2L = N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-diaminoethane; o-van = o-vanillinate; Ln = Tb (1), Dy (2), Er (3)). All the compounds exhibit a slow relaxation of their magnetization and the dysprosium analogue shows one of the highest anisotropic barriers for ZnDy complexes.