Three discrete binuclear gadolinium(III)–copper(II) complexes (CuGd(fsadien)NO3·5H2O (1), CuGd(hsapn)NO3·3H2O (2), and [Gd(pvm)3Cu(A)] (3)) have been synthesized; we use the notation H4fsadien=N,N′-bis(3-carboxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine, H4hsapn=N,N′-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-1,2-propanediamine, Hpvm=dipivaloylmethane (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione), and H2A=4-(6-methyl-8-oxo-2,5-diazanona-1,5,7-trienyl)imidazole. Magnetic susceptibility measurements (4.2–300 K) have revealed that the spin coupling between the Gd(III) and Cu(II) ions is ferromagnetic with coupling constants J=+2.3 cm−1 for (1), +5.7 cm−1 for (2), and +0.5cm  −1 for (3), on the basis of the spin-Hamiltonian H=−2JSGd·SCu.

Submicron perovskite-type, LaFeO3, powders were prepared by the thermal decomposition of a title cyanide-bridged heteronuclear complex. The decomposition begins at about 50 °C and the formation of LaFeO3 proceeds above 580 °C. Mean particle diameter and specific surface area were 50 nm and 22.7 m2/g, respectively, for the LaFeO3 obtained by calcining at 620 °C.

Fluorescent properties of cyanide-bridged Ln(III)–Fe(III) complex assemblies, {Ln[Fe(CN)6]·nH2O}x (n = 4 for Ln = Eu; n = 5 for Ln = Tb), have been investigated in solid state in comparison with those of the 1 : 1 mixtures of K3[Fe(CN)6] and LnCl3·6H2O (Ln = Eu, Tb). Fluorescence of Eu(III) and Tb(III) is almost completely quenched in the complexes but little quenched in the mixtures.

Three kinds of heterometal assemblies, {Ln[Cr(ox)3]• 10H2O}x (Ln=La, Pr or Nd), were prepared by the reaction of K3[Cr(ox)3]• 3H2O with Ln(NO3)3• 6H2O in

Effect of the co-existence of the titled copper(II) or nickel(II) complex upon the fluorescence of europium(II) has been investigated in methanol. Intensities of the fluorescent bands at 580, 593, 618, 687, and 696 nm are significantly quenched by the addition of the copper(II) or nickel(II) complex but not by a simple metal salt, copper(II) nitrate trihydrate or nickel(II) nitrate hexahydrate.