Multi-component synthesis of trimetallic tetranuclear clusters [Cu(L)(H(2)O)](2)Ln(H(2)O)(2)Cr(C(2)O(4))(3).12H(2)O (H(2)L = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotradecane-2,3-dione, Ln(3+) = Gd, Tb and Dy).

Novel tetranuclear Cu(ii)-Ln(iii)-Cr(iii) complexes with oxamidate and oxalate bridges have been prepared using [Cu(L)], LnCl(3).6H(2)O and K(3)[Cr(ox)(3)] components (ox(2-) = oxalate) during the development of new multimetallic complexes as molecular magnets. Overall ferromagnetic properties have been observed in the Cu(2)GdCr compound, and no single-magnet behavior has been found in the Cu(2)TbCr and Cu(2)DyCr compounds.