Double-Propeller-like Heterometallic 3d-4f Clusters Ln18Co7.

Two high-nuclearity lanthanide-transition metal clusters with the general formula [Ln18CoIICoIII6(OH)14(CO3)9(CH3CH2COO)6(dea)12(H2O)30]·(NO3)8·Cl4·(CH3CH2OH)6·(H2O)12 (Ln18Co7, Ln = Gd (1) and Dy (2)) have been obtained by reacting CoCl2·6H2O, Ln(NO3)3·6H2O, and a mixture of ligands consisting of propionate and diethanolamine (H2dea). Crystal structural analysis exhibits two three-blade propellers composed of the CoIII3Ln9 units connected by one CoII ion and three CO32- ions, which assemble into a double-propeller-like structure (Ln18CoIICoIII6). Magnetocaloric effect (MCE) studies indicate that Gd18Co7 exhibits a large entropy change (-ΔSm) of 36.9 J kg-1 K-1.