A new series of lanthanoid containing Keggin-type germanotungstates with acetate chelators: [{Ln(CH3COO)GeW11O39(H2O)}2] {Ln=Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb}

A series of head-on complexes of lanthanoid containing germanotungstates was isolated from a one pot reaction in an acetate buffer at pH 4.5. This convenient approach brought forward the [{Ln(CH₃COO)GeW₁₁O₃₉(H₂O)}₂]¹²⁻ (Ln=Eu^III, Gd^III, Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Tm^III, and Yb^III) family with acetate chelators in the rarely observed μ₂: η²-η¹ mode. All compounds were structurally characterized using various solid state analytics, such as single crystal X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The isostructural polyanions crystallize in the monoclinic system (S.G. P2₁/c). Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements were performed on the Gd^III-complex which exhibits near perfect Curie-type behavior.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of new complex sodium lanthanide phosphate molybdates Na2MIII(MoO4)(PO4)(MIII = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu)

New complex sodium lanthanide phosphate molybdates Na₂M^III(MoO₄)(PO₄)(M^III=Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu) have been synthesized by the ceramic method (T = 600°C, τ = 48 h), and their unit cell parameters have been determined. The structures of Na₂M^III(MoO₄)(PO₄)(M^III = Dy, Ho, Er, Lu) were refined by the Rietveld method. The compounds are isostructural: they are orthorhombic (space group Ibca, Z = 8) and have layered structures. In the structures of phosphate molybdates, chains of M^IIIO₈ polyhedra and MoO₄ tetrahedra are linked by PO₄ tetrahedra to form layers. The MoO ₄ ^2? anions are involved in dipole-dipole interaction. The sodium ions are arranged in the interlayer space. The compounds melt incongruently at 850–870°C.     

Determination of the Interaction of Arsenic and Human Serum Albumin by Online Microdialysis Coupled to LC with Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Study on the stoichiometry and affinity of the arsenicals bound to HSA is an important step toward a better understanding of arsenic toxic effects. After incubation of As^III or As^V with HSA at the physiological conditions (pH 7.43 and 37 °C), the free arsenicals and arsenic-HSA complexes were separated and detected by the combined techniques of microdialysis and liquid chromatography with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (MD–LC–HGAFS). The decrease of As^III peak response rather than As^V indicated that HSA reacted with As^III but not As^V. The binding plots indicated that the binding between HSA and As^III was in Scatchard pattern when the concentration ratios of As^III to HSA were ≤1:1. The strong binding sites (n ₁) were 1.6 and the stability constant (K ₁) was 1.54 × 10⁶ M^?1. When the concentration ratios of As^III to HSA were >1:1, the binding was in Plasvento pattern with the stability constant K ₂ ? 0 and no specific binding of As^III with HSA. On the contrary, As^V did not show binding with HSA. The results showed that As^III reacted with HSA more readily than As^V, which provides a chemical basis for arsenic toxicity.     

Hexagonal-spinel transitions in antimonates Li2Cr3−xMIIIxSbO8 (MIII = Al,Fe, Ga)

A new family of antimonates Li₂Cr_3?xM^III_xSbO₈ (M^III = Al, Fe, Ga) was synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction and ir spectroscopy. The Al-containing compounds exhibit a hexagonal close-packed structure similar to that of LiFeSnO₄ ($\text{a ? 5.8, c ? 9.5}$ Å. For M = Fe or Ga, two structural forms are isolated: a low-temperature hexagonal form which is isotypic with LiFeSnO₄ and a high-temperature cubic form isotypic with the spinel structure. The hexagonal spinel transformation was observed for the first time, while the reverse transformation cannot be obtained.     

IR and Raman spectral and X-ray structural studies of polymorphic forms of sulfamethoxazole

The crystal structure of the polymorphic form III (hemihydrate) of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) was determined to exist in both the E- and Z-forms by X-ray analysis and was compared with the polymorphic forms I and II which are known to exist in the E-form. IR spectra of I–III and their corresponding forms I_D–III_D which contain the deuterated amino and amido groups and D₂O and Raman spectra of I–III have been measured. For I–III, assignment of the stretching vibration [ν(NH) and ν(CH)] bands of amino and amido groups and the CH bond of the isoxazole ring involved in the inter-molecular hydrogen bonds has been proposed based on consideration of the IR and Raman spectra and the results of X-ray analysis. A relationship was established between the relative intensity and wavenumbers for the ν(CH) band in the inter-molecular C(sp²)H⋯X hydrogen bond of the E-form.     

Rational enhancement of the energy barrier of bis(tetrapyrrole) dysprosium SMMs via replacing atom of porphyrin core

With the coordination geometry of Dy^III being relatively fixed, oxygen and sulfur atoms were used to replace one porphyrin pyrrole nitrogen atom of sandwich complex [(Bu)₄N][Dy^III(Pc)(TBPP)] [Pc = dianion of phthalocyanine, TBPP = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[(4-tert-butyl)phenyl]porphyrin]. The energy barrier of the compounds was enhanced three times, with the order of Dy^III(Pc)(STBPP) > Dy^III(Pc)(OTBPP) > [(Bu)₄N][Dy^III(Pc)(TBPP)] [STBPP = monoanion of 5,10,15,20-(4-tert-butyl)phenyl-21-thiaporphyrin, OTBPP = monoanion of 5,10,15,20-(4-tert-butyl)phenyl-21-oxaporphyrin]. Theoretical calculations offer reasonable explanations of such a significant enhancement. The energy barrier of 194 K for Dy^III(Pc)(STBPP) represents the highest one among all the bis(tetrapyrrole) dysprosium SMMs, providing a strategy to rationally enhance the anisotropy and energy barrier via atom replacement.     

Preparation and phase relationships in systems of the type CdSMIMIIIS2 where MI = Ag,Cu and MIII = Al,Ga, In

Systems of the type M^IM^IIIS₂ (chalcopyrite)-CdS (wurtzite) where M^I = Ag, Cu and M^III = Al, Ga, In were investigated to determine the regions of mutual solid solubility. It was found that the chalcopyrite structure could not tolerate extensive CdS substitution. When M^III was Al or Ga the solubility of M^IM^IIIS₂ in CdS was also very limited. However, when M^III = In (r_In³⁺ ? r_Ga³⁺ > r_Al³⁺), the solubility of M^IInS₂ in CdS was quite extensive (～50%). These results are consistent with a prior study on systems of the type M^IM^IIIS₂ZnS which indicated that in sulfides, larger cations tend to result in the formation of new quaternary, wurtzite phases.     

Characterization and chemical reactivity of room-temperature-stable MnIII–alkylperoxo complexes

While alkylperoxomanganese(iii) (Mn^III–OOR) intermediates are proposed in the catalytic cycles of several manganese-dependent enzymes, their characterization has proven to be a challenge due to their inherent thermal instability. Fundamental understanding of the structural and electronic properties of these important intermediates is limited to a series of complexes with thiolate-containing N₄S⁻ ligands. These well-characterized complexes are metastable yet unreactive in the direct oxidation of organic substrates. Because the stability and reactivity of Mn^III–OOR complexes are likely to be highly dependent on their local coordination environment, we have generated two new Mn^III–OOR complexes using a new amide-containing N₅⁻ ligand. Using the 2-(bis((6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl)amino)-N-(quinolin-8-yl)acetamide (H^6Medpaq) ligand, we generated the [Mn^III(OO^tBu)(^6Medpaq)]OTf and [Mn^III(OOCm)(^6Medpaq)]OTf complexes through reaction of their Mn^II or Mn^III precursors with ^tBuOOH and CmOOH, respectively. Both of the new Mn^III–OOR complexes are stable at room-temperature (t_1/2 = 5 and 8 days, respectively, at 298 K in CH₃CN) and capable of reacting directly with phosphine substrates. The stability of these Mn^III–OOR adducts render them amenable for detailed characterization, including by X-ray crystallography for [Mn^III(OOCm)(^6Medpaq)]OTf. Thermal decomposition studies support a decay pathway of the Mn^III–OOR complexes by O–O bond homolysis. In contrast, direct reaction of [Mn^III(OOCm)(^6Medpaq)]⁺ with PPh₃ provided evidence of heterolytic cleavage of the O–O bond. These studies reveal that both the stability and chemical reactivity of Mn^III–OOR complexes can be tuned by the local coordination sphere.

A pair of room-temperature-stable Mn^III–alkylperoxo complexes were characterized and shown to oxidize PPh₃. Thermal decomposition studies provide evidence of both homolysis and heterolysis of the Mn^III–alkylperoxo O–O bond.     

Kinetics of oxidation of glutathione by an octahedral cobalt(III) complex with phenolate–amide–amine coordination

The reduction of the octahedral cobalt(III) complex Co^III(HL)·9H₂O, H₄L = 1,8-bis(2-hydroxybenzamido)-3,6-diazaoctane by glutathione (GSH) has been studied by conventional spectrophotometry at 25.0 ≤ t/°C ≤ 45.0, 0.02 ≤ [H⁺]/mol dm^?3 ≤ 0.20 and I = 0.3 mol dm^?3 (NaClO₄). The reaction is biphasic. The fast initial phase is attributed to the H⁺-induced formation of the mixed ligand complex, [Co^III(H₂L)GSH]⁺, for which the rate-limiting step is the chelate ring opening via Co^III–NH (amide–N) bond cleavage of the protonated species, [Co^III(H₂L)]⁺. Outer-sphere association equilibria between GSH/GSH₂ ⁺ and [Co^III(H₂L)]⁺ substantially retard the ring opening process and consequently the mixed ligand complex formation. This is then followed by a slow phase involving reduction of [Co^III(H₂L)GSH]⁺ by both GSH and GSH₂ ⁺. The final products are the corresponding Co(II) complex and the oxidized form of GSH, GS–SG. The kinetic data and activation parameters for the redox process are interpreted in terms of an outer-sphere electron transfer mechanism.     

Holmium(iii) molecular nanomagnets for optical thermometry exploring the luminescence re-absorption effect

Coordination complexes of lanthanide(3+) ions can combine Single-Molecule Magnetism (SMM) with thermally modulated luminescence applicable in optical thermometry. We report an innovative approach towards high performance SMM-based optical thermometers which explores tunable anisotropy and the luminescence re-absorption effect of Ho^III complexes. Our concept is shown in dinuclear cyanido-bridged molecules, {[Ho^III(4-pyridone)₄(H₂O)₂][M^III(CN)₆]}·nH₂O (M = Co, 1; Rh, 2; Ir, 3) and their magnetically diluted analogues, {[Ho^III_xY^III_1–x(4-pyridone)₄(H₂O)₂][M^III(CN)₆]}·nH₂O (M = Co, x = 0.11, 1@Y; Rh, x = 0.12, 2@Y; Ir, x = 0.10, 3@Y). They are built of pentagonal bipyramidal Ho^III complexes revealing the zero-dc-field SMM effect. Experimental studies and the ab initio calculations indicate an Orbach magnetic relaxation with energy barriers varying from 89.8 to 86.7 and 78.7 cm⁻¹ K for 1, 2, and 3, respectively. 1–3 also differ in the strength of quantum tunnelling of magnetization which is suppressed by hyperfine interactions, and, further, by the magnetic dilution. The Y^III-based dilution governs the optical properties as 1–3 exhibit poor emission due to the dominant re-absorption from Ho^III while 1@Y–3@Y show room-temperature blue emission of 4-pyridone. Within ligand emission bands, the sharp re-absorption lines of the Ho^III electronic transitions were observed. Their strong thermal variation was used in achieving highly sensitive ratiometric optical thermometers whose good performance ranges, lying between 25 and 205 K, are adjustable by using hexacyanidometallates. This work shows that Ho^III complexes are great prerequisites for advanced opto-magnetic systems linking slow magnetic relaxation with unique optical thermometry exploiting a luminescence re-absorption phenomenon.

Ho^III complexes bearing organic luminophores and inorganic metalloligands are an effective tool for achieving the unique conjunction of single-molecule magnetism and thermometric luminescence re-absorption phenomenon.     

Quinoxaline sensitised lanthanide ion luminescence: Syntheses,spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure of Na{1,4,7-tris[(N-diethyl)carbamoylmethyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-10-(2-methylquinoxaline)}I3 C7H8

The synthesis of a quinoxaline-appended aza-macrocyclic ligand together with corresponding Ln^III complexes are described. The luminescence properties of the complexes show that the quinoxaline unit sensitises both visible (Eu^III) and near-IR (Nd^III and Yb^III) emitting lanthanide ions. UV–Vis absorption and time-resolved photophysical studies together with X-ray structural data suggest that as well as contributing chromophorically, the quinoxaline moiety generally participates in the first coordination sphere of Ln^III. The luminescent pH response of the Eu^III complex is also reported. The form of the steady state spectrum changes profoundly in the pH range 2–12, implying a change in the coordination environment, which was confirmed with time-resolved lifetime measurements that suggest an increase in europium inner sphere hydration at acidic pH.     

Mimicking Elementary Reactions of Manganese Lipoxygenase Using Mn-hydroxo and Mn-alkylperoxo Complexes

Manganese lipoxygenase (MnLOX) is an enzyme that converts polyunsaturated fatty acids to alkyl hydroperoxides. In proposed mechanisms for this enzyme, the transfer of a hydrogen atom from a substrate C-H bond to an active-site Mn^III-hydroxo center initiates substrate oxidation. In some proposed mechanisms, the active-site Mn^III-hydroxo complex is regenerated by the reaction of a Mn^III-alkylperoxo intermediate with water by a ligand substitution reaction. In a recent study, we described a pair of Mn^III-hydroxo and Mn^III-alkylperoxo complexes supported by the same amide-containing pentadentate ligand (^6Medpaq). In this present work, we describe the reaction of the Mn^III-hydroxo unit in C-H and O-H bond oxidation processes, thus mimicking one of the elementary reactions of the MnLOX enzyme. An analysis of kinetic data shows that the Mn^III-hydroxo complex [Mn^III(OH)(^6Medpaq)]⁺ oxidizes TEMPOH (2,2′-6,6′-tetramethylpiperidine-1-ol) faster than the majority of previously reported Mn^III-hydroxo complexes. Using a combination of cyclic voltammetry and electronic structure computations, we demonstrate that the weak Mn^III-N(pyridine) bonds lead to a higher Mn^III/II reduction potential, increasing the driving force for substrate oxidation reactions and accounting for the faster reaction rate. In addition, we demonstrate that the Mn^III-alkylperoxo complex [Mn^III(OO^tBu)(^6Medpaq)]⁺ reacts with water to obtain the corresponding Mn^III-hydroxo species, thus mimicking the ligand substitution step proposed for MnLOX.     

Determination of arsenic and antimony in seawater by voltammetric and chronopotentiometric stripping using a vibrated gold microwire electrode

The oxidation potentials of As⁰/As^III and Sb⁰/Sb^III on the gold electrode are very close to each other due to their similar chemistry. Arsenic concentration in seawater is low (10–20 nM), Sb occurring at ∼0.1 time that of As. Methods are shown here for the electroanalytical speciation of inorganic arsenic and inorganic antimony in seawater using a solid gold microwire electrode. Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) and chronopotentiometry (ASC) are used at pH ≤ 2 and pH 8, using a vibrating gold microwire electrode. Under vibrations, the diffusion layer size at a 5 μm diameter wire is 0.7 μm. The detection limits for the As^III and Sb^III are below 0.1 nM using 2 min and 10 min deposition times respectively. As^III and Sb^III can be determined in acidic conditions (after addition of hydrazine) or at neutral pH. In the latter case, oxidation of As⁰ to As^III was found to proceed through a transient As^III species. Adsorption of this species on the gold electrode at potentials where Sb^III diffused away is used for selective deposition of As^III. Addition of EDTA removes the interfering effect of manganese when analysing As^III. Imposition of a desorption step for Sb^III analysis is required. Total inorganic arsenic (iAs = As^V + As^III) can be determined without interference from Sb nor mono-methyl arsenious acid (MMA) at 1.6 < pH < 2 using E_dep = −1 V. Total inorganic antimony (iSb = Sb^V + Sb^III) is determined at pH 1 using E_dep = −1.8 V without interference by As.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 3-phenylpropanamide derivatives with acyl hydrazone units

In this study, a series of 3-phenylpropanamide derivatives with acyl hydrazone units were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HR MS. And the structure of compound III₃₃ was confirmed by X-ray single crystal. The bioassay results showed that, compounds III₈, III₁₇, III₂₂, and III₃₄ showed excellent inhibition on Xanthomonas oryzae pv. pryzae (Xoo) with EC₅₀ values of 7.1, 8.8, 9.5, and 4.7 μg/mL in vitro. The EC₅₀ values of compounds III₁₂, III₁₄ and III₃₃ against Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) were 7.6, 7.6 and 7.9 μg/mL, respectively, all lower than the values of thiadiazol copper (TC) was 66.8 μg/mL and bismerthiazol (BT) was 72.4 μg/mL. Compounds III₁₂, III₁₄, III₃₃, and III₃₄ exhibited excellent antibacterial activity of more than 80% against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) in vitro. Besides, compounds III₈ (51.4%) and III₃₄ (52.1%) were highly effective against Xoo in vivo, outperforming TC (49.5%) and BT (47.8%). Compounds III₈ (29.8%) and III₃₄ (24.6%) were close to TC (41.7%) and BT (47.8%) in terms of protective efficacy against Xoo in vivo. Meanwhile, some of title compounds also displayed inhibitory effects against phytopathogenic fungi. In a word, this study illustrated that the structures combined with phenylpropane amide derivatives of the acyl hydrazone units could be used as potential antibacterial reagents in the future.     

Alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide catalyzed by salen CoIII(acetate) complexes

A series of Co^III carboxylate based upon N,N,O,O-tetradentate Schiff base ligand framework have been prepared. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that these Schiff base Co^III carboxylate are all monomeric species with a six-coordinated central Co in their solid structures. The activities and polycarbonate selectivity of these complexes toward the copolymerization of epoxide (cyclohexene oxide and propylene oxide) and carbon dioxide have been investigated in the presence of bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride. Copolymerization experiments indicate that [bis(α-methyl-3,5-di-tertbutyl-salicylaldehyde) ethylenediiminato] Co^IIIOOCH₃ exhibits the highest activity and polycarbonate selectivity among these Co^III carboxylate. The resultant copolymer contained almost 100 % carbonate linkages with the molecular weight up to 71.8 kg mol^?1 as well as narrow polymer dispersity index (polymer dispersity index?=?1.5). The substituents and the mode of the bridging part between the two nitrogen atoms both exert significant influences upon the progress of the copolymerizations, influencing both the polycarbonate selectivity and the rate of copolymerization.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structure determination of [VF(PO4), N2C2H9] and [Ti(OH)(PO4), N2C2H9], two M(III) phosphates with the ULM-11 bidimensional topology

[V^IIIF(PO₄), en] and [Ti^III(OH)(PO₄), en] (en = ethylenediamine) are two new layered compounds isostructural with ULM-11. Both were synthesized hydrothermally (453 K, 3 days for ULM-11 (V^III) and 453 K, 28 days for ULM-11 (Ti^III)). Structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (V^III sample) or powder X-ray diffraction (Ti^III sample). Both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic system (space group P2₁/ c) with cell parameters at 293 K: a = 9.2272 (3) A, b = 7.3532 (2) A, c = 9.8496 (2) A, β = 101.315 (1) °, V = 655.30 A³, Z = 4 for the vanadium phase and a = 9.265 (1) Å, b = 7.329 (1) A, c = 9.911 (1) A, β = 100.89 (1) °, V = 660.90 ų, Z = 4 for the titanium compound. In both lamellar structures, layers consist of chains of MO₃X₂N octahedra (M = V, Ti and X = F, OH) related together via PO₄ tetrahedra. One amino group of the diamine is directly bound to the metallic center (via the N atom) while the protonated second amino group points at the interlayer space interacting with terminal P-O groups by strong hydrogen bonds.     

CuI–Zn(OAc)2 catalyzed C(sp2)–H activation for the synthesis of pyridocoumarins through an uncommon CuI–CuIII switching mechanism: A fast,solvent-free,combo-catalytic,ball milling approach

CuI–Zn(OAc)₂ catalyzed, a fast, solvent-free synthetic protocol has been developed for the oxidative C–C and C–N coupling via C(sp²)–H activation. In this work, an aldehyde, terminal alkyne and 3-aminocoumarin were coupled together to form pyridocoumarin framework through a greener ball milling process under very mild condition. In contrast to the frequently used imine-alkyne cyclization reactions, this uncommon mild Cu^I–Cu^III switching combo-catalysis is expected to proceed through the formation of a flexible propargylic amine intermediate, which leads to a rapid C(sp²)–H activation for cyclization involving transient Cu^III species. The in-situ formation of transient Cu^III species was confirmed through ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses of the reaction mixture.     

Spectroscopic Investigation on Sonocatalytic Damage of BSA Molecules by FeIII Complexes with Binary Organic Acid Ligands Under Ultrasonic Irradiation

The interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Fe^III complexes with three binary organic acid (biorga) ligands, [Fe^III(oxa)(H₂O)₄]⁺ (oxa = oxalic acid), [Fe^III(pra)(H₂O)₄]⁺ (pra = propanedioic acid) and [Fe^III(sua)(H₂O)₄]⁺ (sua = succinic acid), as well as the sonocatalytic damage of BSA in the presence of these three Fe^III–biorga complexes under ultrasonic irradiation, were studied by UV–vis and fluorescence spectra. The experimental results show that the fluorescence quenching process of BSA caused by three Fe^III–biorga complexes are all static quenching and the corresponding quenching rate constants (K _q), equilibrium constants (K _A) and the binding site numbers (n) were calculated. The results reveal that, under ultrasonic irradiation, the BSA molecules were obviously damaged by these Fe^III–biorga complexes. In addition, the effects of several factors on the damage of BSA molecules were examined. The experimental results demonstrate that the damage degree of BSA increased with an increase of ultrasonic irradiation time, Fe^III–biorga complex concentration, and ionic strength. In comparison, [Fe^III(pra)(H₂O)₄]⁺ exhibited higher sonocatalytic activity than [Fe^III(oxa)(H₂O)₄]⁺ and [Fe^III(sua)(H₂O)₄]⁺. Finally, the extent of generation of $ \cdot {\text{O}}_{2}^{ - } $ · O 2 ? and ·OH during sonocatalytic processes was estimated. Perhaps, the results will be significant for promoting sonodynamic treatment (SDT) of tumors at the molecular level.     

Experimental and theoretical characterization of Co(III) and Zn(II) complexes with phenol-based hexa-dentate macro-acyclic ligands: synthesis,density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory studies

Macro-acyclic complexes with two dissimilar coordination sites: one includes six coordination set (N₄O₂) and the other a tetradentate donor set (N₂O₂) of the type [Co^IIIL^en]ClO₄ and [Co^IIIL^tn]ClO₄ (where L^en = N,N′-bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-N,N′-bis(5-bromo-3-formyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,2-diaminoethane and L^tn = N,N′-bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-N,N′-bis(5-bromo-3-formyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,3-diaminoepropane) have been synthesized and characterized. Characterization result revealed that in the synthetic procedure of [Co^IIIL^en]ClO₄ only an isomer (trans-pyridine/cis-phenolate) among three possible geometrical isomers is formed. However, synthesis of its counterpart, [Co^IIIL^tn]ClO₄ resulted in the formation of a mixture of geometrical isomers (trans-pyridine/cis-phenolate and cis-pyridine/cis-phenolate). The computational studies of these complexes demonstrated that in [Co^IIIL^tn]⁺ an equilibrium exists between two possible geometrical isomers as result of a small energy difference (0.72 kcal mol^?1), whereas in [Co^IIIL^en]⁺ the difference is (2.71 kcal mol^?1). Furthermore, [Zn^IIL^en] has been studied computationally and experimentally by IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques. The results showed that it has a similar structure to [Co^IIIL^en]⁺ complex. Electronic spectra of the complexes were analyzed and the absorption bands were assigned through the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD–DFT) studies procedures. The molecular orbital diagrams of the complexes were also determined.     

Assessing the exchange coupling in binuclear lanthanide(iii) complexes and the slow relaxation of the magnetization in the antiferromagnetically coupled Dy2 derivative

We report here the synthesis and the investigation of the magnetic properties of a series of binuclear lanthanide complexes belonging to the metallacrown family. The isostructural complexes have a core structure with the general formula [Ga₄Ln₂(shi^3–)₄(Hshi^2–)₂(H₂shi^–)₂(C₅H₅N)₄(CH₃OH)_x(H₂O)_x]·xC₅H₅N·xCH₃OH·xH₂O (where H₃shi = salicylhydroxamic acid and Ln = Gd^III1; Tb^III2; Dy^III3; Er^III4; Y^III5; Y^III_0.9Dy^III_0.16). Apart from the Er-containing complex, all complexes exhibit an antiferromagnetic exchange coupling leading to a diamagnetic ground state. Magnetic studies, below 2 K, on a single crystal of 3 using a micro-squid array reveal an opening of the magnetic hysteresis cycle at zero field. The dynamic susceptibility studies of 3 and of the diluted DyY 6 complexes reveal the presence of two relaxation processes for 3 that are due to the excited ferromagnetic state and to the uncoupled Dy^III ions. The antiferromagnetic coupling in 3 was shown to be mainly due to an exchange mechanism, which accounts for about 2/3 of the energy gap between the antiferro- and the ferromagnetic states. The overlap integrals between the Natural Spin Orbitals (NSOs) of the mononuclear fragments, which are related to the magnitude of the antiferromagnetic exchange, are one order of magnitude larger for the Dy₂ than for the Er₂ complex.