Two Gd2 cluster complexes with monocarboxylate ligands displaying significant magnetic entropy changes

Two Gd2 cluster complexes with the formulas of [Gd2(dnba)6(phen)2] (1) and [Gd2(Hnsa)2(nsa)2(phen)2(H2O)2] (2) (Hdnba = 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, H2nsa = 5-nitrosalicylic acid and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) respectively have been successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The GdIII ions of 1 are bridged by four carboxylates with syn-syn-μ2-η1:η1 and syn-syn-μ2-η1:η2 modes, while the GdIII ions of 2 are linked by two carboxylate ligands with only syn-syn-μ2-η1:η2 mode. Magnetic studies indicate that weak antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions exist between the adjacent GdIII ions within Gd2 clusters, respectively. Complexes 1 and 2 display distinct magnetocaloric effects induced by different magnetic interactions and magnetic densities. Notably, the maximum magnetic entropy changes (−ΔSmmax) of 1 and 2 reach 16.8 J kg−1 K−1 and 22.2 J kg−1 K−1 with ΔH = 7 T at 2 K and 3.5 K, respectively.