A novel dodecanuclear complex, [{(HL)(L)(DMF)Cu(II)Gd(III)(DMF)(H(2)O)}(6)]·6DMF (1; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide), has been obtained using the ligand resulting from the condensation of 3-formylsalicylic acid with hydroxylamine (H(3)L). The exchange interaction between the phenoxo-bridged Cu(II) and Gd(III) ions is weak ferromagnetic (J = +1.01 cm(-1)). The combination of a high-spin ground state with small anisotropy leads to a significant magnetocaloric effect [-ΔS(m)(0-7 T) = 23.5 J K g(-1) K(-1) at ∼2 K].

Three different lanthanides (EuIII, GdIII, DyIII) have been used to generate [Ln12] clusters with specific optical and magnetic properties.

Two types of oxalato-bridged heterometallic 3d-4f dodeca- and hexanuclear compounds have been obtained by connecting six bi- and, respectively, trinuclear moieties through oxalato bridges arising from the slow decomposition of the L-ascorbic acid.

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