The linear-type heterometallic tetramers, [Mn
III2(5-MeOsaltmen)
2M
II2(L)
2](CF
3SO
3)
2·2H
2O (M
II = Cu,
1a; Ni,
2a),where 5-MeOsaltmen
2- =
N,
N'-(1,1,2,2-tetramethylethylene) bis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminate), and H
2L = 3-{2-[(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-2-methyl-propylimino}-butan-2-one oxime, have been synthesized and characterizedfrom structural and magnetic points of view. These two compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the samemonoclinic
P2
1/
n space group. The structure has a [M
II-NO-Mn
III-(O)
2-Mn
III-ON-M
II] skeleton, where -NO- is alinking oximato group derived from the non-symmetrical Schiff-base complex [M
II(L)] and -(O)
2- is a biphenolatobridge in the out-of-plane [Mn
2(5-MeOsaltmen)
2]
2+ dimer. The solvent-free compounds,
1b and
2b, have also beenprepared by drying of the parent compounds,
1a and
2a, respectively, at 100
C under dried nitrogen. After thistreatment, the crystallinity is preserved, and
1b and
2b crystallize in a monoclinic
P2
1/
c space group without significantchanges in their structures in comparison to
1a and
2a. Magnetic measurements on
1a and
1b revealedantiferromagnetic Mn
III···Cu
II interactions via the oximato group and weak ferromagnetic Mn
III···Mn
III interactionsvia the biphenolato bridge leading to an
ST = 3 ground state. On the other hand, the diamagnetic nature of thesquare planar Ni
II center generates an
ST = 4 ground state for
2a and
2b. At low temperature, these solvated (
a)and desolvated (
b) compounds display single-molecule magnet behavior modulated by their spin ground state.