Structural Variations and Magnetic Studies of Polymetallic Cages

Families of cages, where similar structures can be made with different 3d-metals are discussed. A variety of synthetic strategies have been developed, and magnetic and spectroscopic measurements on some of these cages are described. The majority of the structures described are based on tricapped-trigonal prisms, but variations in structure caused by steric requirements of the ligands are seen. Spin ground states of S = 8, 4 and 2 are observed for a series of nickel cages, and an EPR active spin state of S = 6 for a chromium cage.