One-dimensional zigzag chain of Cu–Gd coordination polymers derived from chiral hexadentate Schiff base ligands: Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties

One couple of enantiomerically pure chiral CuIIGdIII coordination polymers [Cu((S, S)-Salcy)Gd(NO3)3·CH3OH]n (1) and [Cu((R, R)-Salcy)Gd(NO3)3·CH3OH]n (2) [(S, S)-Salcy or (R, R)-Salcy = (S, S)- or (R, R)-N, N′-(1,2-cyclohexanediylethylene) bis(3-ethoxysalicylideneiminato)dianion], were synthesized and structurally characterized. The self-assembly by intermolecular semicoordination of nitrate to copper(II) formed a one-dimensional zigzag chain structure. Magnetic property studies indicated that 1 and 2 exhibited very strong ferromagnetic interaction (J = 6.285 and 7.408 cm−1, respectively) between copper(II) and gadolinium(III) metal centers among the related complexes, although the dihedral angles (8.1° and 8.6°, respectively) of CuO2 and GdO2 are a little large.