Syntheses, characterisation, magnetism and photoluminescence of a homodinuclear Ln(III)-Schiff base family.

A novel family of homodinuclear complexes of the general formula [Ln(2)L(2)(X)(2)] (where Ln = Nd(3+), Pr(3+), Sm(3+) and Tb(3+) for 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively and X, the coordinated NO(3)(-) or Cl(-) anion) has been synthesised from the corresponding lanthanide(III) salts with the pentadentate dianionic Schiff base ligand, H(2)L [N(1),N(3)-bis(salicylideneimino)diethylenetriamine], that exhibits a N(3)O(2) donor set. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies evidenced the isostructurality of this family of centrosymmetric neutral dinuclear entities where the Ln(III) metal centres are coupled together by two phenolato oxygen atoms belonging to two units of ligand (H(2)L). Interestingly, the…