Site‐Resolved Two‐Step Relaxation Process in an Asymmetric Dy2 Single‐Molecule Magnet

Elaborate chemical design is of utmost importance in order to slow down the relaxation dynamics in single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) and hence improve their potential applications. Much interest was devoted to the study of distinct relaxation processes related to the different crystal fields of crystallographically independent lanthanide ions. However, the assignment of the relaxation processes to specific metal sites remains a challenging task. To address this challenge, a new asymmetric Dy₂ SMM displaying a well‐separated two‐step relaxation process with the anisotropic centers in fine‐tuned local environments was elaborately designed. For the first time a one‐to‐one relationship between the metal sites and the relaxation processes was evidenced. This work sheds light on complex multiple relaxation and may direct the rational design of lanthanide SMMs with enhanced magnetic properties.     

Angular‐Resolved Magnetometry Beyond Triclinic Crystals: Out‐of‐Equilibrium Studies of Cp*ErCOT Single‐Molecule Magnet

Angular‐resolved single‐crystal magnetometry is a key tool to characterise lanthanide‐based materials with low symmetry, for which conjectures based on idealised geometries can be totally misleading. Unfortunately the technique is strictly successful only for triclinic structures, thus reducing significantly its application. By collecting out‐of‐equilibrium magnetisation data the technique was extended to the orthorhombic organometallic Cp*ErCOT single‐molecule magnet (SMM), thus allowing for the first time the reconstruction of the molecular anisotropy tensor notwithstanding the two molecular orientations in the crystal lattice. The results, flanked by state‐of‐the‐art ab initio calculations, confirmed the expected orientation of the molecular easy axis of magnetisation and thus validated the synthetic strategy based on organometallic complexes of a single lanthanide ion.     

Analysis of the Role of Peripheral Ligands Coordinated to ZnII in Enhancing the Energy Barrier in Luminescent Linear Trinuclear Zn‐Dy‐Zn Single‐Molecule Magnets

Three new Dy complexes have been prepared according to a complex‐as‐ligand strategy. Structural determinations indicate that the central Dy ion is surrounded by two LZn units (L^2? is the di‐deprotonated form of the N₂O₂ compartmental N,N′‐2,2‐dimethylpropylenedi(3‐methoxysalicylideneiminato) Schiff base. The Dy ions are nonacoordinate to eight oxygen atoms from the two L ligands and to a water molecule. The Zn ions are pentacoordinate in all cases, linked to the N₂O₂ atoms from L, and the apical position of the Zn coordination sphere is occupied by a water molecule or bromide or chloride ions. These resulting complexes, formulated (LZnX)‐Dy‐(LZnX), are tricationic with X=H₂O and monocationic with X=Br or Cl. They behave as field‐free single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) with effective energy barriers (U_eff) for the reversal of the magnetization of 96.9(6) K with τ₀=2.4×10^?7 s, 146.8(5) K with τ₀=9.2×10^?8 s, and 146.1(10) K with τ₀=9.9×10^?8 s for compounds with Zn?OH₂, Zn?Br, and Zn?Cl motifs, respectively. The Cole–Cole plots exhibit semicircular shapes with α parameters in the range of 0.19 to 0.29, which suggests multiple relaxation processes. Under a dc applied magnetic field of 1000 Oe, the quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM) is partly or fully suppressed and the energy barriers increase to U_eff=128.6(5) K and τ₀=1.8×10^?8 s for 1 , U_eff=214.7 K and τ₀=9.8×10^?9 s for 2 , and U_eff=202.4 K and τ₀=1.5×10^?8 s for 3 . The two pairs of largely negatively charged phenoxido oxygen atoms with short Dy?O bonds are positioned at opposite sides of the Dy³⁺ ion, which thus creates a strong crystal field that stabilizes the axial M_J=±15/2 doublet as the ground Kramers doublet. Although the compound with the Zn?OH₂ motifs possesses the larger negative charges on the phenolate oxygen atoms, as confirmed by using DFT calculations, it exhibits the larger distortions of the DyO₉ coordination polyhedron from ideal geometries and a smaller U_eff value. Ab initio calculations support the easy‐axis anisotropy of the ground Kramers doublet and predict zero‐field SMM behavior through Orbach and TA‐QTM relaxations via the first excited Kramers doublet, which leads to large energy barriers. In accordance with the experimental results, ab initio calculations have also shown that, compared with water, the peripheral halide ligands coordinated to the Zn²⁺ ions increase the barrier height when the distortions of the DyO₉ have a negative effect. All the complexes exhibit metal‐centered luminescence after excitation into the UV π–π* absorption band of ligand L^2? at λ=335 nm, which results in the appearance of the characteristic Dy^III (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_J/2; J=15/2, 13/2) emission bands in the visible region.     

Tuning the Magnetic Interactions and Relaxation Dynamics of Dy2 Single‐Molecule Magnets

Efficient modulation of single‐molecule magnet (SMM) behavior was realized by deliberate structural modification of the Dy₂ cores of [Dy₂( a ′ povh )₂(OAc)₂(DMF)₂] ( 1 ) and [Zn₂Dy₂( a′povh )₂(OAc)₆] ? 4 H₂O ( 2 ; H₂ a ′ povh =N′‐[amino(pyrimidin‐2‐yl)methylene]‐o‐vanilloyl hydrazine). Compound 1 having fourfold linkage between the two dysprosium ions shows high‐performance SMM behavior with a thermal energy barrier of 322.1 K, whereas only slow relaxation is observed for compound 2 with only twofold connection between the dysprosium ions. This remarkable discrepancy is mainly because of strong axiality in 1 due to one pronounced covalent bond, as revealed by experimental and theoretical investigations. The significant antiferromagnetic interaction derived from bis(μ₂‐O) and two acetate bridging groups was found to be crucial in leading to a nonmagnetic ground state in 1 , by suppressing zero‐field quantum tunneling of magnetization.     

Redox Switches for Single‐Molecule Magnet Activity: An Ab Initio Insight

A dinuclear Co^II complex ( 1 ) featuring unprecedented anodic and cathodic switches for single‐molecule magnet (SMM) activity has been recently investigated (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013 , 135, 14670). The presence of sandwiched radicals in different oxidation states of this compound mediates magnetic coupling between the high‐spin (S=3/2) cobalt ions, which gives rise to SMM activity in both the oxidized ([ 1 (OEt₂)]⁺) and reduced ([ 1 ]^?) states. This feature represents the first example of a SMM exhibiting fully reversible, dual ON/OFF switchability. Here we apply ab initio and broken‐symmetry DFT calculations to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for magnetic properties and magnetization blocking in these compounds. It is found that due to the strong delocalization of the magnetic molecular orbital, there is a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between the radical and cobalt ions. The lack of high axiality of the cobalt centres explains why these compounds possess slow relaxation of magnetization only in an applied dc magnetic field.     

The Metallofullerene Field‐Induced Single‐Ion Magnet HoSc2N@C80

The low‐temperature magnetic properties of the endohedral metallofullerene HoSc₂N@C₈₀ have been studied by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. Alternating current (ac) susceptibility measurements reveal that this molecule exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization in a small applied field with timescales in the order of milliseconds. The equilibrium magnetic properties of HoSc₂N@C₈₀ indicate strong magnetic anisotropy. The large differences in magnetization relaxation times between the present compound and the previously investigated DySc₂N@C₈₀ are discussed.     

Rational Electrostatic Design of Easy‐Axis Magnetic Anisotropy in a ZnII–DyIII–ZnII Single‐Molecule Magnet with a High Energy Barrier

Two novel trinuclear complexes [ZnCl(μ‐L)Ln(μ‐L)ClZn][ZnCl₃(CH₃OH)]?3 CH₃OH (Ln^III=Dy ( 1 ) and Er ( 2 )) have been prepared from the compartmental ligand N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐3‐formyl‐5‐bromo‐benzyl)ethylenediamine (H₂L). X‐ray studies reveal that Ln^III ions are coordinated by two [ZnCl(L)]^? units through the phenoxo and aldehyde groups, giving rise to a LnO₈ coordination sphere with square‐antiprism geometry and strong easy‐axis anisotropy of the ground state. Ab initio CASSCF+RASSI calculations carried out on 1 confirm that the ground state is an almost pure M_J=±15/2 Kramers doublet with a marked axial anisotropy, the magnetic moment is roughly collinear with the shortest Dy?O distances. This orientation of the local magnetic moment of the Dy^III ion in 1 is adopted to reduce the electronic repulsion between the oblate electron shape of the M_J=±15/2 Kramers doublet and the phenoxo‐oxygen donor atoms involved in the shortest Dy?O bonds. CASSCF+RASSI calculations also show that the ground and first excited states of the Dy^III ion are separated by 129 cm^?1. As expected for this large energy gap, compound 1 exhibits, in a zero direct‐current field, thermally activated slow relaxation of the magnetization with a large U_eff=140 K. The isostructural Zn–Er–Zn species does not present significant SMM behavior as expected for the prolate electron‐density distribution of the Er^III ion leading to an easy‐plane anisotropy of the ground doublet state.     

Enhancement of TbIII–CuII Single‐Molecule Magnet Performance through Structural Modification

We report a series of 3d–4f complexes {Ln₂Cu₃(H₃L)₂X_n} (X=OAc^?, Ln=Gd, Tb or X=NO₃^?, Ln=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) using the 2,2′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyldiimino)bis[2‐(hydroxylmethyl)propane‐1,3‐diol] (H₆L) pro‐ligand. All complexes, except that in which Ln=Gd, show slow magnetic relaxation in zero applied dc field. A remarkable improvement of the energy barrier to reorientation of the magnetisation in the {Tb₂Cu₃(H₃L)₂X_n} complexes is seen by changing the auxiliary ligands (X=OAc^? for NO₃^?). This leads to the largest reported relaxation barrier in zero applied dc field for a Tb/Cu‐based single‐molecule magnet. Ab initio CASSCF calculations performed on mononuclear Tb^III models are employed to understand the increase in energy barrier and the calculations suggest that the difference stems from a change in the Tb^III coordination environment (C_4v versus C_s).     

Two C3‐Symmetric Dy3III Complexes with Triple Di‐μ‐methoxo‐μ‐phenoxo Bridges,Magnetic Ground State,and Single‐Molecule Magnetic Behavior

Two series of isostructural C₃‐symmetric Ln₃ complexes Ln₃ ? [BPh₄] and Ln₃ ? 0.33[Ln(NO₃)₆] (in which Ln^III=Gd and Dy) have been prepared from an amino‐bis(phenol) ligand. X‐ray studies reveal that Ln^III ions are connected by one μ₂‐phenoxo and two μ₃‐methoxo bridges, thus leading to a hexagonal bipyramidal Ln₃O₅ bridging core in which Ln^III ions exhibit a biaugmented trigonal‐prismatic geometry. Magnetic susceptibility studies and ab initio complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) calculations indicate that the magnetic coupling between the Dy^III ions, which possess a high axial anisotropy in the ground state, is very weakly antiferromagnetic and mainly dipolar in nature. To reduce the electronic repulsion from the coordinating oxygen atom with the shortest Dy?O distance, the local magnetic moments are oriented almost perpendicular to the Dy₃ plane, thus leading to a paramagnetic ground state. CASSCF plus restricted active space state interaction (RASSI) calculations also show that the ground and first excited state of the Dy^III ions are separated by approximately 150 and 177 cm^?1, for Dy₃ ? [BPh₄] and Dy₃ ? 0.33[Dy(NO₃)₆], respectively. As expected for these large energy gaps, Dy₃ ? [BPh₄] and Dy₃ ? 0.33[Dy(NO₃)₆] exhibit, under zero direct‐current (dc) field, thermally activated slow relaxation of the magnetization, which overlap with a quantum tunneling relaxation process. Under an applied H_dc field of 1000 Oe, Dy₃ ? [BPh₄] exhibits two thermally activated processes with U_eff values of 34.7 and 19.5 cm^?1, whereas Dy₃ ? 0.33[Dy(NO₃)₆] shows only one activated process with U_eff=19.5 cm^?1.     

A Single‐Ion Magnet Based on a Heterometallic CoIII2DyIII Complex

We report a Co^III₂Dy^III complex, which shows single‐ion‐magnet behaviour. AC susceptibility data of this compound reveals the presence of slow relaxation of the magnetization in zero‐field below 15 K. The relaxation barrier is 88 K.     

Magnetic Relaxation in Single‐Electron Single‐Ion Cerium(III) Magnets: Insights from Ab Initio Calculations

Detailed ab initio calculations were performed on two structurally different cerium(III) single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) to probe the origin of magnetic anisotropy and to understand the mechanism of magnetic relaxations. The complexes [Ce^III{Zn^II(L)}₂(MeOH)]BPh₄ ( 1 ) and [Li(dme)₃][Ce^III(cot′′)₂] ( 1 ; L=N,N,O,O‐tetradentate Schiff base ligand; 2 ; DME=dimethoxyethane, COT′′=1,4‐bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclooctatetraenyldianion), which are reported to be zero‐field and field‐induced SMMs with effective barrier heights of 21.2 and 30 K respectively, were chosen as examples. CASSCF+RASSI/SINGLE_ANISO calculations unequivocally suggest that m_J|±5/2〉 and |±1/2〉 are the ground states for complexes 1 and 2 , respectively. The origin of these differences is rooted back to the nature of the ligand field and the symmetry around the cerium(III) ions. Ab initio magnetisation blockade barriers constructed for complexes 1 and 2 expose a contrasting energy‐level pattern with significant quantum tunnelling of magnetisation between the ground state Kramers doublet in complex 2 . Calculations performed on several model complexes stress the need for a suitable ligand environment and high symmetry around the cerium(III) ions to obtain a large effective barrier.     

Heterodinuclear Lanthanoid‐Containing Polyoxometalates: Stepwise Synthesis and Single‐Molecule Magnet Behavior

Polyoxometalates (POMs) with heterodinuclear lanthanoid cores, TBA₈H₄[{Ln(μ₂‐OH)₂Ln′}(γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₆)₂] ( LnLn′ ; Ln=Gd, Dy; Ln′=Eu, Yb, Lu; TBA=tetra‐n‐butylammonium), were successfully synthesized through the stepwise incorporation of two types of lanthanoid cations into the vacant sites of lacunary [γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₆]^8? units without the use of templating cations. The incorporation of a Ln³⁺ ion into the vacant site between two [γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₆]^8? units afforded mononuclear Ln³⁺‐containing sandwich‐type POMs with vacant sites ( Ln1 ; TBA₈H₅[{Ln(H₂O)₄}(γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₆)₂]; Ln=Dy, Gd, La). The vacant sites in Ln1 were surrounded by coordinating W? O and Ln? O oxygen atoms. On the addition of one equivalent of [Ln′(acac)₃] to solutions of Dy1 or Gd1 in 1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE), heterodinuclear lanthanoid cores with bis(μ₂‐OH) bridging ligands, [Dy(μ₂‐OH)₂Ln′]⁴⁺, were selectively synthesized ( LnLn′ ; Ln=Dy, Gd; Ln′=Eu, Yb, Lu). On the other hand, La1 , which contained the largest lanthanoid cation, could not accommodate a second Ln′³⁺ ion. DyLn′ showed single‐molecule magnet behavior and their energy barriers for magnetization reversal (ΔE/k_B) could be manipulated by adjusting the coordination geometry and anisotropy of the Dy³⁺ ion by tuning the adjacent Ln′³⁺ ion in the heterodinuclear [Dy(μ₂‐OH)₂Ln′]⁴⁺ cores. The energy barriers increased in the order: DyLu (ΔE/k_B=48 K)< DyYb (53 K)< DyDy (66 K)< DyEu (73 K), with an increase in the ionic radii of Ln′³⁺; DyEu showed the highest energy barrier.     

Solvent Responsive Magnetic Dynamics of a Dinuclear Dysprosium Single‐Molecule Magnet

A new dysprosium(III) phosphonate dimer {Dy(notpH₄)(NO₃)(H₂O)}₂ ? 8 H₂O ( 1 ) [notpH₆=1,4,7‐triazacyclononane‐1,4,7‐triyl‐tris(methylenephosphonic acid)] that contains two equivalent Dy^III ions with a three‐capped trigonal prism environment is reported. Complex 1 can be transformed into {Dy(notpH₄)(NO₃)(H₂O)}₂ ( 2 ) in a reversible manner by desorption and absorption of solvent water at ambient temperature. This process is accompanied by a large dielectric response. Magnetic studies reveal that both 1 and 2 show thermally activated magnetization relaxation as expected for single‐molecule magnets. Moreover, the magnetic dynamics of the two compounds can be manipulated by controlling the number of solvent molecules at room temperature.     

Homoleptic Two‐Coordinate Silylamido Complexes of Chromium(I), Manganese(I), and Cobalt(I)

Anionic two‐coordinate complexes of first‐row transition‐metal(I) centres are rare molecules that are expected to reveal new magnetic properties and reactivity. Recently, we demonstrated that a N(SiMe₃)₂^? ligand set, which is unable to prevent dimerisation or extraneous ligand coordination at the +2 oxidation state of iron, was nonetheless able to stabilise anionic two‐coordinate Fe^I complexes even in the presence of a Lewis base. We now report analogous Cr^I and Co^I complexes with exclusively this amido ligand and the isolation of a [Mn^I{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂]₂^2? dimer that features a Mn?Mn bond. Additionally, by increasing the steric hindrance of the ligand set, the two‐coordinate complex [Mn^I{N(Dipp)(SiMe₃)}₂]^? was isolated (Dipp=2,6‐iPr₂‐C₆H₃). Characterisation of these compounds by using X‐ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements is provided along with ligand‐field analysis based on CASSCF/NEVPT2 ab initio calculations.