Crystal structure and magnetic properties of two heteronuclear thiocyanate bridged compounds: (CuL)[Co(NCS)4] (L=N-meso-(5,12-Me2-7,14-Et2-[14]-4,11-dieneN4) and N-rac-(5,12-Me2-7,14-Et2-[14]-4,11-dieneN4))

Complexes of general formula [CuL][Co(NCS)4] (where L=N-meso-(5,12-Me2-7,14-Et2-[14]-4,11-dieneN4) (1); N-rac-(5,12-Me2-7,14-Et2-[14]-4,11-dieneN4) (2)) were obtained and characterised by X-ray diffraction, magnetic measurements and by infrared spectroscopy. For both compounds the crystal and molecular structures have been determined. We observed two different environments of copper(II) ions in the cell for both complexes. Complex 1 formed 1-D polymeric chains where copper(II) is square bipyramidal, while complex 2 has a binuclear structure with square pyramidal environments of copper(II) ions. The magnetic susceptibility of both complexes was measured over a temperature range 1.9–300 K by the SQUID method. The magnetic behaviour of complexes 1 and 2 is characteristic for compounds with ferromagnetic interactions.