The First Fused Dimer Metallacrown NiII₂(mcpa)₂(CH₃OH)₃(H₂O)[12-MCNiIIN(shi)2(pko)2-4][12-MCNiIIN(shi)3(pko)-4]

The crystal structure of NiII2(mcpa)2(CH3OH)3(H2O)[12-MCNiIIN(shi)2(pko)2-4][12-MCNiIIN(shi)3(pko)-4] metallacrown shows it to have a fused arrangement of two [12-MCM(ox)N(ligand)-4] units, the NiII(mcpa)[Ni4(shi)2(pko)2(CH3OH)2] and the NiII(mcpa)[Ni4(shi)3(pko)(CH3OH)(H2O)] with 1+ and 1− charge, respectively. Each unit has four ring NiII ions and one additional encapsulated NiII ion. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate antiferromagnetic behavior.