Three-dimensional 3d–4f heterometallic polymers containing both azide and carboxylate as co-ligands

The hydrothermal reaction of Ln(NO3)3, Ni(NO3)2, NaN3, and isonicotinic acid (L) yielded two novel 3-D coordination frameworks (1 and 2) of general formula [Ni2Ln(L)5(N3)2 (H2O)3] · 2H2O (Ln = Pr(III) for 1 and Nd(III) for 2), containing Ni–Pr or Ni–Nd hybrid extended three-dimensional networks containing both azido and carboxylate as co-ligands. Both the compounds are found to be isostructural and crystallize in monoclinic system having P21/n space group. Here the lanthanide ions are found to be nonacoordinated. Both bidentate and monodentate modes of binding of the carboxylate with the lanthanides have been observed in the above complexes. Variable temperature magnetic studies of the above two complexes have been investigated in the temperature range 2–300 K which showed dominant antiferromagnetic interaction in both the cases and these experimental results are analyzed with the theoretical models.