We investigated the electronic properties of $RE{\mathrm{Ru}}_6{\mathrm{As}}_4(RE=\mathrm{La}, \mathrm{Ce}, \mathrm{Sm}, \text{and} \mathrm{Yb})$ using single-crystalline samples grown by the Bi-flux method. These compounds crystallize in the noncentrosymmetric hexagonal ${\mathrm{LiCo}}_6{\mathrm{P}}_4$-type structure, featuring chain-like and triangular arrangements of magnetic $RE$ ions. From the electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat measurements, we have found that ${\mathrm{SmRu}}_6{\mathrm{As}}_4$ and ${\mathrm{YbRu}}_6{\mathrm{As}}_4$ order antiferromagnetically below the Néel temperature of 1.5 and 9.5 K, respectively. Despite the relatively high transition temperature of ${\mathrm{YbRu}}_6{\mathrm{As}}_4$, its magnetic field-temperature phase diagram reveals that the antiferromagnetic state collapses at a low field of ${\mu }_0{H}_{\mathrm{c}}=1.7\mathrm{T}$, accompanied by an unusual nonlinear magnetization. The small critical field and characteristic magnetization curve in ${\mathrm{YbRu}}_6{\mathrm{As}}_4$ suggest an important role of competing interactions associated with magnetic frustration.

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• Antiferromagnetism
• Crystal growth
• Crystal structure
• Electrical conductivity
• Magnetic anisotropy
• Magnetic susceptibility
• Magnetoresistance
• Metamagnetism
• RKKY interaction
• Specific heat