Metalloligands for designing single-molecule and single-chain magnets.

2-Hydroxy-N-{2-[2-hydroxyethyl)amino]ethyl}benzamide (L¹H₃) and 2-hydroxy-N-{2-[2-hydroxybutyl)amino]ethyl}benzamide (L²H₃) ligands coordinate to copper ions to give anionic metalloligands, L¹Cu⁻ and L²Cu⁻, after deprotonation of their amide, alcohol and phenol functions. In presence of ancillary ligands as diketones, these metalloligands react with lanthanide salts to yield tetranuclear [Cu-Ln]₂ complexes while in presence of lanthanide salts alone, L¹Cu⁻ gives 1D chains of tetranuclear entities linked through the Ln ions. The micro-SQUID data evidence the SMM behavior of the tetranuclear Tb complexes and the SCM behavior of the Tb chain derivative.