Templated assembly of μ5-CO32− decanuclear praseodymium and neodymiumclusters through spontaneous fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide

Abstract

Reactions of Ln(III) acetate (Ln = Pr and Nd) and a polydentate Schiff-base in a mixture of methanol and acetonitrile resulted in the unprecedented assembly of novel Ln₁₀ aggregates containing two Ln₅ pentagons templated by μ₅-CO₃²⁻, introduced via spontaneous fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Magnetic analysis using an expression including the ligand field effects and molecular field approximation indicates weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal ions. This synthetic approach may represent a promising new route toward the design of new lanthanide clusters and novel multifunctional materials.