Molecular structure and magnetic properties of [Gd(LH4(NO3)(2)(H2O)]NO3)(H2O)(2), [Sm(LH4)(NO3)(2)(H2O)]NO3(H2O)(1.5)(CH3OH)(0.5) and [Cu-2(LH2)(H2O)(2)](NO3)(2) complexes (LH4 : Schiff base ligand derived from 4-methyl-2,6-diformylphenol and 1,3-diaminopropanol)

Novel lanthanide(III) complexes (Ln=Gd (1), Sm (2), La (3)) of the macrocyc lic ligand LH4 have been prepared and characterized. The binuclear copper(I I) complex (Cu-2(LH2)(H2O)(2))(NO3)(2) (4), has been obtained by transmetal ation of complex 3 with Cu(CF3COO)(2). The macrocyclic Schiff base ligand ( LH4) is formed by the condensation of two molecules of 4-methyl-2,6-diformy lphenol with two molecules of 1,3-diaminopropanol in the presence of the la nthanide ions. The alcohol group of the macrocycle does not coordinate to t he copper(II) centers of the binuclear complex. However, one of the seconda ry alcohol groups of the ligand coordinates in an asymmetric mode to the la nthanide ion in the corresponding three complexes. The X-ray crystal struct ures of (Gd(LH4)(NO3)(2)(H2O))(NO3)(H2O)(2) (1), (Sm(LH4)(NO3)(2)(H2O))(NO3 )(H2O)(1.5)(CH3OH)(0.5) (2), and (Cu-2(LH2)(H2O)(2))(NO3)(2) (4) have been determined. Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the 5-300 K range were obtained for these complexes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.