A novel one-dimensional Ni( i i )–Fe( i i ) polymer containing μ 3 -cyanides: [Ni(cyclen)] 2 [Fe(CN) 6 ]·8H 2 O

Reaction of K4[Fe(CN)6] with Ni(CH3COO)2 and cyclen produced an unusual one-dimensional paramagnetic complex, [Ni(cyclen)]2[Fe(CN)6]·8H2O (cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane), that consists of [Ni(cyclen)]2 dimers bridged by μ3-cyanides from [Fe(CN)6]4−. The Ni⋯Ni distance is 3.303 Å, which is significantly shorter than the corresponding distance of 3.449 Å in [Ni2(μ-N3)2(232-tet)2](PF6)2. Moderate antiferromagnetic coupling occurs between the Ni2+ ions.