The hydrothermal synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of the isostructural coordination polymers
∞3[M2II(pm)], M=Co, Fe or Mn and pm=pyromellitate, 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate, are described. The structure consists of 1D chains of edge-sharing MO
6 octahedra that are connected into layers via O
C
O bridges. The layers are held together by the pyromellitate (pm
4−) backbone to give a 3D structure
where each ligand participates in an unprecedented 12 coordination M
O bonds to ten metal atoms. The Fe and Mn analogues are antiferromagnets
whereas the Co compound displays a more complex behaviour, existing in one of three magnetic ground states at lo
w temperature (collinear antiferromagnetism, canted antiferromagnetism and field induced ferromagnetism).