Magnetic sponge like behavior in a heterobimetallic cyanide bridged 1D ladder chain

A two-dimensional coordination complex {[Mn(Me-im)3(H2O)][Cr(CN)6]0.5[Mn(EtOH)2]}(1) (Me-im= 1-Methylimidazole) has been synthesized by following the “building-block” strategy from the reaction between [Cr(CN)6]3- and Mn(II) with monodentate 1-methylimidazole ligand. The complex was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, magnetic, gas adsorption and spectroscopic studies. Crystal structure analyses reveal that in the 2D network is formed, the central Cr is linked to two Mn centers of different coordination environments in the [CrMn2] asymmetric unit by CrIII-CN-MnII bridges. Extension of the 2D network forms “1D ladder like chains” of finite width. N2 gas adsorption studies on desolvated sample reveals a Type II adsorption isotherm at 77 K. Magnetic studies of 1 reveal strong ferrimagnetic ordering with TC= 2.15 K. In an attempt to increase the ordering temperature, the magnetic sponge property has also been investigated for this system by successive desolvation and resolvation, and likewise an increase in the ordering temperature has been observed