Hydrogen bonds mediated magnetism in Cu(bmen)2Pd(CN)4

Results of synthesis, X-ray structure analysis, electron spin resonance, susceptibility, magnetization and specific heat measurements of powdered Cu(bmen)2Pd(CN)4 ( bmen = N , N ′ -dimethyl-1,2-diaminoethane) are reported. Its structure is formed of quasi-linear chains of the [–Cu(bmen)2–NC–Ni(CN)2–CN–]n composition; these are interlinked by hydrogen bonds (HBs) leading to two-dimensional patterns. Upon magnetic, spectral and thermodynamic measurements the compound was identified as an S = 1 / 2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on a square lattice with J / k = − 0.48 K due to the dominant role of HBs in creating a square network. The long-range ordering observed at 0.24 K is proposed to be of a Néel type. The possibility of tuning the exchange interactions in various directions is considered.