A New Quantum Chemical Approach to the Magnetic Properties of Oligonuclear Transition‐Metal Complexes: Application to a Model for the Tetranuclear Manganese Cluster of Photosystem II

Broken‐symmetry DFT calculations on transition‐metal clusters with more than two centers allow the hyperfine coupling constants to be extracted. Application of the proposed theoretical scheme to a tetranuclear manganese complex that models the S₂ state of the oxygen‐evolving complex of photosystem II yields hyperfine parameters that can be directly compared with experimental data. The picture shows the metal–oxo core of the model and the following parameters; exchange coupling constant J_ij, the expectation value of the site‐spin operator , and the isotropic hyperfine coupling parameters.

     

Experimental and theoretical studies on the magnetic properties of manganese(II) compounds with mixed isocyanate and carboxylate bridges

Two manganese(II) isocyanate complexes with different flexible zwitterionic dicarboxylate ligands, [Mn(2)(bcpp)(NCO)(4)](n) (1; bcpp=1,3-bis(N-carboxylatomethyl-4-pyridinio)propane) and [Mn(2)(bcp)(NCO)(4)](n) (2; bcp=bis(N-carboxylatomethyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium, have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and magnetic measurements. Both compounds consist of two-dimensional coordination layers in which uniform anionic chains with mixed (NCO)(2)(COO) triple bridges are cross-linked by flexible cationic 4,4'-trimethylenedipyridinium spacers. Magnetic studies revealed antiferromagnetic interactions through the triple bridges (J=-8.0 cm(-1) (1) and J=-8.6 cm(-1) (2)), which are stronger than those in the isoelectronic analogue (N(3))(2)(COO). To complement the experimental data, periodic and finite-cluster DFT and CASPT2 calculations were performed on the dimeric units of the (NCO)(2)(COO) and (N(3))(2)(COO) mixed-bridged systems to support the Heisenberg picture and stress the relative efficiency of the magnetic couplers. It was found that the isocyanate ligand plays a greater role in the conveyance of antiferromagnetic behavior than the azide counterpart, and that both pseudohalide bridges function cooperatively with the carboxylate group.     

Aromaticity of tri- and tetranuclear metal-carbonyl clusters based on magnetic criteria

Recently, the sigma-aromaticity model proposed for cyclopropane by Dewar was employed to account for the stability of Group 8 trinuclear metal-carbonyl compounds [M(3)(CO)(12)] (M=Fe, Ru, Os). This paper further examines this hypothesis and provides the first quantitative evidence for the sigma-aromatic/antiaromatic nature of the [M(3)(CO)(12)]/[M(4)(CO)(16)] species based on structural and nucleus-independent chemical-shift analysis. In addition, the extent of electron delocalization in tetrahedral [M(4)(CO)(14)] and butterfly [M(4)(CO)(15)] is analyzed and compared to prototype cycloalkanes. While remarkable analogies exist between metal-carbonyls and cycloalkanes, transition metals provide additional overlap possibilities that affect both the ring strain and the magnetic properties of metal-carbonyl rings and cages.     

High-temperature experimental and theoretical study of magnetic interactions in diamond and pseudo-diamond frameworks built up from hexanuclear tantalum clusters

Magnetic interactions in solid‐state tantalum cluster compounds have been evidenced by using magnetic susceptibility measurements and corroborated by broken‐symmetry DFT calculations. The three selected compounds are based on [Ta₆X₁₂(H₂O)₆]³⁺ (X=Cl or/and Br) units with edge‐bridged Ta₆ octahedral clusters. Although two of them crystallise in the tetragonal space group I4₁/a, all compounds exhibit a similar arrangement of paramagnetic clusters related to the diamond structural framework (Fd$\bar 3Magnetic interactions in solid-state tantalum cluster compounds have been evidenced by using magnetic susceptibility measurements and corroborated by broken-symmetry DFT calculations. The three selected compounds are based on [Ta(6)X(12)(H(2)O)(6)](3+) (X=Cl or/and Br) units with edge-bridged Ta(6) octahedral clusters. Although two of them crystallise in the tetragonal space group I4(1)/a, all compounds exhibit a similar arrangement of paramagnetic clusters related to the diamond structural framework (Fd ?3m space group). Magnetic parameters were fitted by using the [5,4] Padé approximant of high-temperature series expansion of susceptibility for the Heisenberg model (S=1/2) in the diamond framework, assuming only nearest-neighbouring interactions. Such a model appropriately describes magnetic-susceptibility measurements at temperatures T>0.7|J|/k. The magnetic interaction parameter J between two [Ta(6)Cl(12)(H(2)O)(6)](3+) clusters is estimated to be -64.28(7) cm(-1) ; it has been enhanced by replacing several chlorine inner ligands with bromine ones (J=-123(3) cm(-1) for two [Ta(6)Br(7.7(1))Cl(4.3(1))(H(2)O)(6)](3+) clusters) and is strongest between two bromine [Ta(6)Br(12)(H(2)O)(6)](3+) clusters with a value of -155(1) cm(-1) . Broken-symmetry DFT calculations within spin-dimer analysis confirmed this trend. Those interactions can be explained on the basis of the overlap between singly occupied a(2u) orbitals localised on neighbouring clusters.     

Fe2 and Fe4 clusters encapsulated in vacant polyoxotungstates: hydrothermal synthesis, magnetic and electrochemical properties, and DFT calculations

While the reaction of [PW(11)O(39)](7-) with first row transition-metal ions M(n+) under usual bench conditions only leads to monosubstituted {PW(11)O(39)M(H(2)O)} anions, we have shown that the use of this precursor under hydrothermal conditions allows the isolation of a family of novel polynuclear discrete magnetic polyoxometalates (POMs). The hybrid asymmetric [Fe(II)(bpy)(3)][PW(11)O(39)Fe(2) (III)(OH)(bpy)(2)]12 H(2)O (bpy=bipyridine) complex (1) contains the dinuclear {Fe(micro-O(W))(micro-OH)Fe} core in which one iron atom is coordinated to a monovacant POM, while the other is coordinated to two bipyridine ligands. Magnetic measurements indicate that the Fe(III) centers in complex 1 are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (J=-11.2 cm(-1), H=-JS(1)S(2)) compared to other {Fe(micro-O)(micro-OH)Fe} systems. This is due to the long distances between the iron center embedded in the POM and the oxygen atom of the POM bridging the two magnetic centers, but also, as shown by DFT calculations, to the important mixing of bridging oxygen orbitals with orbitals of the POM tungsten atoms. The complexes [Hdmbpy](2)[Fe(II)(dmbpy)(3)](2)[(PW(11)O(39))(2)Fe(4) (III)O(2)(dmbpy)(4)]14 H(2)O (2) (dmbpy=5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) and H(2)[Fe(II)(dmbpy)(3)](2)[(PW(11)O(39))(2)Fe(4) (III)O(2)(dmbpy)(4)]10 H(2)O (3) represent the first butterfly-like POM complexes. In these species, a tetranuclear Fe(III) complex is sandwiched between two lacunary polyoxotungstates that are pentacoordinated to two Fe(III) cations, the remaining paramagnetic centers each being coordinated to two dmbpy ligands. The best fit of the chi(M)T=f(T) curve leads to J(wb)=-59.6 cm(-1) and J(bb)=-10.2 cm(-1) (H=-J(wb)(S(1)S(2)+S(1)S(2*)+S(1*)S(2)+S(1*)S(2*))-J(bb)(S(2)S(2*))). While the J(bb) value is within the range of related exchange parameters previously reported for non-POM butterfly systems, the J(wb) constant is significantly lower. As for complex 1, this can be justified considering Fe(w)--O distances. Finally, in the absence of a coordinating ligand, the dimeric complex [N(CH(3))(4)](10)[(PW(11)O(39)Fe(III))(2)O]12 H(2)O (4) has been isolated. In this complex, the two single oxo-bridged Fe(III) centers are very strongly antiferromagnetically coupled (J=-211.7 cm(-1), H=-JS(1)S(2)). The electrochemical behavior of compound 1 both in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and in the solid state is also presented, while the electrochemical properties of complex 2, which is insoluble in common solvents, have been studied in the solid state.     

What Controls the Magnetic Exchange Interaction in Mixed‐ and Homo‐Valent Mn7 Disc‐Like Clusters? A Theoretical Perspective

Density functional theory (DFT) studies have been undertaken to compute the magnetic exchange and to probe the origin of the magnetic interactions in two hetero‐ and two homo‐valent heptanuclear manganese disc‐like clusters, of formula [Mn^II₄Mn^IV₃(tea)(teaH₂)₃(peolH)₄] ( 1 ), [Mn^II₄Mn^III₃F₃(tea)(teaH)(teaH₂)₂(piv)₄(Hpiv)(chp)₃] ( 2 ), [Mn^II₇(pppd)₆(tea)(OH)₃] ( 3 ) and [Mn^II₇ (paa)₆(OMe)₆] ( 4 ) (teaH₃=triethanolamine, peolH₄=pentaerythritol, Hpiv=pivalic acid, Hchp=6‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypyridine, pppd=1‐phenyl‐3‐(2‐pyridyl) propane‐1,3‐dione; paaH=N‐(2‐pyridinyl)acetoacetamide). DFT calculations yield J values, which reproduce the magnetic susceptibility data very well for all four complexes; these studies are also highlighting the likely ageing/stability problems in two of the complexes. It is found that the spin ground states, S, for complexes 1 – 4 are drastically different, varying from S=29/2 to S=1/2. These values are found to be controlled by the nature of the oxidation state of the metal ions and minor differences present in the structures. Extensive magneto–structural correlations are developed for the seven building unit dimers present in the complexes, with the correlations unlocking the reasons behind the differences in the magnetic properties observed. Independent of the oxidation state of the metal ions, the Mn‐O‐Mn/Mn‐F‐Mn angles are found to be the key parameters, which significantly influence the sign as well as the magnitude of the J values. The magneto–structural correlations developed here, have broad applicability and can be utilised to understand the magnetic properties of other Mn clusters.     

Studies on cage-type tetranuclear metal clusters with ferrocenylphosphonate ligands

Reaction of FcCH(2)PO(3)H(2) [Fc=(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))] (H(2)FMPA) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) with Cd(OAc)(2).2 H(2)O or ZnSO(4).7 H(2)O in methanol in the presence of triethylamine resulted in the formation of two new ferrocenylphosphonate metal-cage complexes [M(4)(fmpa)(4)(phen)(4)] 7 CH(3)OH (M=Cd 1, M=Zn 2). Both structures contain two kinds of isomeric tetranuclear metal phosphonate cages, which are linked to one another by pi-pi interactions between the phen molecules. In 1, the Cd1, Cd3, and Cd4 atoms are all pentacoordinate, while the Cd2 atom is coordinated by four oxygen atoms from three phosphonate ligands and two nitrogen atoms from the chelating phen in a distorted octahedral geometry. Four Cd atoms from each unit are interconnected through bridging phosphonate ligands with different coordination modes, such as 5.221, 4.211, and 2.11 (Harris notation), yielding a {Cd(4)} cage. In 2, each Zn atom is coordinated by three oxygen atoms from three phosphonate ligands and two nitrogen atoms from phen, leading to a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The four Zn atoms of each isomeric unit are also interconnected through four bridging phosphonate ligands to yield a {Zn(4)} cage. Fluorescent studies indicate that ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer photoluminescence is observed for 1, while the emission bands of 2 can be assigned to an admixture of ligand-to-ligand and metal-to-ligand charge transfer. Solution-state differential pulse voltammetry indicates that the half-wave potentials of the ferrocenyl moieties in 1 and 2 have different deviations relative to the relevant H(2)FMPA ligand. This may be because the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) in 1 is located in the FMPA(2-) groups, while in 2 the HOMO is located in the phen and Zn(II) groups, so the Fe(II) centers in complex 1 are more easily oxidized to Fe(III) centers than those of 2. The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) measurements show that both 1 and 2 exhibit strong third-order NLO self-focusing effects; hence, they are promising candidates for NLO materials. By calculating the component of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of 1 and 2, we confirmed that the co-planar phen rings control their optical nonlinearity, while the H(2)FMPA ligands and metal ions have only a weak influence on their NLO properties.     

A wheel-shaped single-molecule magnet of [MnII 3MnIII 4]: quantum tunneling of magnetization under static and pulse magnetic fields

The reaction of N-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)iminodiethanol (=H3(5-NO2-hbide)) with Mn(OAc)2* 4 H2O in methanol, followed by recrystallization from 1,2-dichloroethane, yielded a wheel-shaped single-molecule magnet (SMM) of [MnII 3MnIII 4(5-NO2-hbide)6].5 C2H4Cl2 (1). In 1, seven manganese ions are linked by six tri-anionic ligands and form the wheel in which the two manganese ions on the rim and the one in the center are MnII and the other four manganese ions are MnIII ions. Powder magnetic susceptibility measurements showed a gradual increase with chimT values as the temperature was lowered, reaching a maximum value of 53.9 emu mol(-1) K. Analyses of magnetic susceptibility data suggested a spin ground state of S=19/2. The zero-field splitting parameters of D and B 0 4 were estimated to be -0.283(1) K and -1.64(1)x10(-5) K, respectively, by high-field EPR measurements (HF-EPR). The anisotropic parameters agreed with those estimated from magnetization and inelastic neutron scattering experiments. AC magnetic susceptibility measurements showed frequency-dependent in- and out-of-phase signals, characteristic data for an SMM, and an Arrhenius plot of the relaxation time gave a re-orientation energy barrier (DeltaE) of 18.1 K and a pre-exponential factor of 1.63x10(-7) s. Magnetization experiments on aligned single crystals below 0.7 K showed a stepped hysteresis loop, confirming the occurrence of quantum tunneling of the on magnetization (QTM). QTM was, on the other hand, suppressed by rapid sweeps of the magnetic field even at 0.5 K. The sweep-rate dependence of the spin flips can be understood by considering the Landau-Zener-Stückelberg (LZS) model.     

Structural,magnetic, and vibrational properties of stoichiometric clusters of CrN

We performed density‐functional‐theoretic calculations to investigate the structural, magnetic and vibrational properties of the stoichiometric clusters (CrN)_n ( ). We show that the building block of the ground‐state structures of these clusters is a square CrNCrN unit; the only exception with n > 2 occurs for (CrN)₃, but this cluster has an isomer not very far in energy from the ground state consisting of a pair of CrNCrN squares sharing a CrN bond. In the smaller CrN, (CrN)₂, and (CrN)₃ clusters the magnetic moments of the N atoms are non‐negligible and antiparallel to those of the Cr atoms, but for the larger species (CrN)₄, (CrN)₅, (CrN)₆, and (CrN)₉ the cluster magnetic moments are almost entirely due to the Cr atoms. Lack of imaginary vibrational frequencies in the predicted ground‐state structures of (CrN)_n ( ) confirms that they are mechanically stable equilibrium states. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.