Excitation Energy-Transfer Processes in the Sensitization Luminescence of Europium in a Highly Luminescent Complex

The excitation energy transfer (EET) pathways in the sensitization luminescence of Eu^III and the excitation energy migration between the different ligands in [Eu(fod)₃dpbt] [where fod=6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione and dpbt=2-(N,N-diethylanilin-4-yl)-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine], exhibiting well-separated fluorescence excitation and phosphorescence bands of the different ligands, were investigated by using time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy for the first time. The data clearly revealed that upon the excitation of dpbt, the sensitization luminescence of Eu^III in [Eu(fod)₃dpbt] was dominated by the singlet EET pathway, whereas the triplet EET pathway involving T₁(dpbt) was inefficient. The energy migration from T₁(dpbt) to T₁(fod) in [Eu(fod)₃dpbt] was not observed. Moreover, upon the excitation of fod, a singlet EET pathway for the sensitization of Eu^III luminescence, including the energy migration from S₁(fod) to S₁(dpbt) was revealed, in addition to the triplet EET pathway involving T₁(fod). Under the excitation of dpbt at 410 nm, [Eu(fod)₃dpbt] exhibited an absolute quantum yield for Eu^III luminescence of 0.59 at 298 K. This work provides a solid and elegant example for the concept that singlet EET pathway could dominate the sensitization luminescence of Eu^III in some complexes.     

Magnetic Properties of Two New Fe4 Single‐Molecule Magnets in the Solid State and in Frozen Solution

Two novel tetranuclear, star‐shaped iron(III) clusters, [Fe₄(acac)₆(Br‐mp)₂] and [Fe^III₄(acac)₆(tmp)₂], are described. Both have S=5 ground states resulting from antiferromagnetic nearest‐neighbour superexchange interactions, with J=?8.2 cm^?1 and J=?8.5 cm^?1 for 1 and 2 , respectively. Energy barriers for the relaxation of the magnetisation of approximately 12 cm^?1 were derived from AC susceptibility measurements. Magnetic resonance measurements revealed a zero‐field splitting parameter D=?0.34 cm^?1 for both complexes. AC susceptibility measurements in solution demonstrated that the complexes are reasonably stable in solution. Interestingly, the magnetisation relaxation slows down significantly in frozen solution, in contrast to what is generally observed for single‐molecule magnets. This was shown to result from a large increase in τ₀, the prefactor in the Arrhenius equation, with the energy barrier remaining unchanged.     

Tetrazine Chromophore‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks with Unusual Configurations: Synthetic,Structural, Theoretical,Fluorescent, and Nonlinear Optical Studies

Three unusual three‐dimensional (3D) tetrazine chromophore‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) {(Et₄N)[WS₄Cu₃(CN)₂(4,4′‐pytz)_0.5]}_n ( 1 ), {[MoS₄Cu₄(CN)₂(4,4′‐pytz)₂] ? CH₂Cl₂}_n ( 2 ), and {[WS₄Cu₃(4,4′‐pytz)₃] ? [N(CN)₂]}_n ( 3 ; 4,4′‐pytz=3,6‐bis(4‐pyridyl)tetrazine) have been synthesized and characterized by using FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, gel permeation chromatography, steady‐state fluorescence, and thermogravimetric analysis; their identities were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. MOF 1 possesses the first five‐connected M/S/Cu (M=Mo, W) framework with an unusual 3D (4⁴?6⁶) topology constructed from T‐shaped [WS₄Cu₃]⁺ clusters as nodes and single CN^?/4,4′‐pytz bridges as linkers. MOF 2 features a novel 3D MOF structure with (4²⁰?6⁸) topology, in which the bridging 4,4′‐pytz ligands exhibit unique distorted arch structures. MOF 3 displays the first 3D MOF structure based on flywheel‐shaped [WS₄Cu₃]⁺ clusters with a non‐interpenetrating honeycomb‐like framework and a heavily distorted “ACS” topology. Steady‐state fluorescence studies of 1 – 3 reveal significant fluorescence emissions. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 1 – 3 were investigated by using a Z‐scan technique with 5 ns pulses at λ=532 nm. The Z‐scan experimental results show that the π‐delocalizable tetrazine‐based 4,4′‐pytz ligands contribute to the strong third‐order NLO properties exhibited by 1 – 3 . Time‐dependent density functional theory studies afforded insight into the electronic transitions and spectral characterization of these functionalized NLO molecular materials.     

The Effect of Crystal Packing and ReIV Ions on the Magnetisation Relaxation of [Mn6]‐Based Molecular Magnets

The energy barrier to magnetisation relaxation in single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) proffers potential technological applications in high‐density information storage and quantum computation. Leading candidates amongst complexes of 3d metals ions are the hexametallic family of complexes of formula [Mn₆O₂(R‐sao)₆(X)₂(solvent)_y] (saoH₂=salicylaldoxime; X=mono‐anion; y=4–6; R=H, Me, Et, and Ph). The recent synthesis of cationic [Mn₆][ClO₄]₂ family members, in which the coordinating X ions were replaced with non‐coordinating anions, opened the gateway to constructing families of novel [Mn₆] salts in which the identity and nature of the charge balancing anions could be employed to alter the physical properties of the complex. Herein we demonstrate initial experiments to show that this is indeed possible. By replacing the diamagnetic ClO₄^? anions with the highly anisotropic Re^IV ion in the form of [Re^IVCl₆]^2?, the energy barrier to magnetisation relaxation is increased by up to 30 %.     

Eu(fod)3 binding on the 1H‐NMR spectra of bis(2′‐ethylbenzoate)ethylene glycol podands

The complexing and selective binding constants of Eu(fod)₃ with bis(2′‐ethylbenzoate)ethylene glycol podands having one to four oxyethylene groups was observed on their ¹H‐NMR spectra at 250 MHz and 295 K in CDCl₃. The Eu(fod)₃ interaction displayed the selective binding role of oxygen on H₂C–O–CH₂ backbones with referring the ¹H chemical shifts. The estimated equilibrium constants, K_a, of 1:1 ratio of interactions were in accordance with the Eu(fod)₃ ionic radii to bind the oxygen sites depending on the size and conformation of the esters. Esters having one or two ethyleneoxy groups gave mainly 2:2 complexes using ester sites. The minimum lanthanide‐podand ester distance displayed the maximum stability so that ester with four oxyethylene groups was found to bind the Eu(fod)₃ moderately, whereas ester with three oxyethylene groups showed a large induced chemical shift due to the stability of Eu³⁺ complexes with larger ethyleneoxy groups. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The use of 1H and 13C spin-lattice relaxation rates in the structure determination of adducts of adamantane-1-carbonitrile and lanthanide chelates in solution; comparison with the results of measurements of lanthanide induced shifts

Gd(fod)₃ induced enhancements of ¹H and ¹³ spin-lattice relaxation rates showed the Gd-N distance in adducts of Gd(fod)₃ and adamantane-1-carbonitrile to be 2.60 Å. A good estimate of the intermolecular contribution to the enhancement of the relaxation appears to be essential in this method of structural analysis. The results of this investigation are compared with those of calculations based on lanthanide induced shifts.     

Use of silver trifluoroacetate together with lanthanide shift reagents for simplification of 1H NMR spectra of aromatic hydrocarbons

The equimolar mixtures of typical lanthanide shift reagents such as Eu(fod)₃, Pr(fod)₃ or Yb(fod)₃ with silver trifluoroacetate, previously used to induce paramagnetic shifts in the ¹H NMR spectra of alkenes, have been successfully applied to simple aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes. In benzene and p-xylene the signals of all the aromatic protons are shifted identically. In other substituted benzenes the magnitude of the induced shift depends on the distance between the proton and the substituents. In addition, the different behaviour of the signals of the methyl groups in meta-and para-xylene on the addition of the complex shift reagent allows the quantitative analysis of the two xylenes in their mixtures.     

Single-Ion Magnetic Behaviour in an Iron(III) Porphyrin Complex: A Dichotomy Between High Spin and 5/2–3/2 Spin Admixture

A mononuclear iron(III) porphyrin compound exhibiting unexpectedly slow magnetic relaxation, which is a characteristic of single-ion magnet behaviour, is reported. This behaviour originates from the close proximity (≈550 cm⁻¹) of the intermediate-spin S=3/2 excited states to the high-spin S=5/2 ground state. More quantitatively, although the ground state is mostly S=5/2, a spin-admixture model evidences a sizable contribution (≈15 %) of S=3/2 to the ground state, which as a consequence experiences large and positive axial anisotropy (D=+19.2 cm⁻¹). Frequency-domain EPR spectroscopy allowed the m_S= |±1/2⟩→|±3/2⟩ transitions to be directly accessed, and thus the very large zero-field splitting in this 3d⁵ system to be unambiguously measured. Other experimental results including magnetisation, Mössbauer, and field-domain EPR studies are consistent with this model, which is also supported by theoretical calculations.     

Assisted Self-Assembly to Target Heterometallic Mn-Nd and Mn-Sm SMMs: Synthesis and Magnetic Characterisation of [Mn7Ln3(O)4(OH)4(mdea)3(piv)9(NO3)3] (Ln=Nd,Sm, Eu,Gd)**

In an assisted self-assembly approach starting from the [Mn₆O₂(piv)₁₀(4-Me-py)₂(pivH)₂] cluster a family of Mn−Ln compounds (Ln=Pr−Yb) was synthesised. The reaction of [Mn₆O₂(piv)₁₀(4-Me-py)₂(pivH)₂] ( 1 ) with N-methyldiethanolamine (mdeaH₂) and Ln(NO₃)₃ ⋅ 6H₂O in MeCN generally yields two main structure types: for Ln=Tb−Yb a previously reported Mn₅Ln₄ motif is obtained, whereas for Ln=Pr−Eu a series of Mn₇Ln₃ clusters is obtained. Within this series the Gd^III analogue represents a special case because it shows both structural types as well as a third Mn₂Ln₂ inverse butterfly motif. Variation in reaction conditions allows access to different structure types across the whole series. This prompts further studies into the reaction mechanism of this cluster assisted self-assembly approach. For the Mn₇Ln₃ analogues reported here variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest that antiferromagnetic interactions between the spin carriers are dominant. Compounds incorporating Ln=Nd^III( 2 ), Sm^III( 3 ) and Gd^III ( 5 ) display SMM behaviour. The slow relaxation of the magnetisation for these compounds was confirmed by ac measurements above 1.8 K.     

High-Resolution Solid-State NMR Characterization of Morphology in Annealed Polylactic Acid

Single-pulse ¹³C NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹H), detected indirectly via ¹³C carbons, and T₁(¹³C) were measured at 31°C for virgin pelletized and annealed polylactic acid (PLA) samples using the magic-angle spinning technique. The structural relaxation resulting in more regular crystals with narrower conformation distribution and increase in the lamellae thickness and crystallinity brought about by annealing at 100°C was deduced from the narrowing of the ¹³C NMR lines and proton spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹H). The spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹³C) related to the respective carbons of the α-polymorph of PLA are also discussed in the study.     

Thallium(III) coordination compounds: chemical information from 205Tl NMR longitudinal relaxation times

²⁰⁵Tl longitudinal relaxation rate measurements were performed on several thallium(III) complexes with the composition Tl(OH)_n(H₂O)_6?n^(3?n)+ (n = 1,2), Tl(Cl)_n(H₂O)_m?n^(3?n)+, Tl(Br)_n(H₂O)_m?n^(3?n)+ (m = 6 for n = 1–2, m = 5 for n = 3, m = 4 for n = 4), Tl(CN)_n(H₂O)_m?n^(3?n)+ (m = 6 for n = 1–2, m = 4 for n = 3–4) in aqueous solution, at different magnetic fields and temperatures. ¹³C and ²D isotopic labelling and ¹H decoupling experiments showed that the contribution of the dipolar relaxation path is negligible. The less symmetric lower complexes (n < 4) had faster relaxation rate dominantly via chemical shift anisotropy contribution which depended on the applied magnetic field: T₁ values are between 20 and 100 ms at 9.4 T and the shift anisotropy is Δσ = 1000–2000 ppm. The tetrahedral complexes, n = 4, relax slower; their T₁ is longer than 1 s and the spin–rotation mechanism is probably the dominant relaxation path as showed by a temperature dependence study. In the case of the TlCl₄^? complex, presumably a trace amount of TlCl₅^2? causes a large CSA contribution, 300 ppm. Since the geometry and the bond length for the complexes in solution are known from EXAFS data, it was possible to establish a correlation between the CSA parameter and the symmetry of the complexes. The relaxation behaviour of the Tl–bromo complexes is not in accordance with any known relaxation mechanism. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular design of a new family of bridged bis(multinitro-triazole) with outstanding oxygen balance as high-density energy compounds

A new family of bridged bis(multinitro-triazole) was designed and investigated using the density functional theory method. The density, oxygen balance, heat of formation, detonation performance, and impact sensitivity were calculated systematically. The results show that the multinitromethyl groups play an important role in increasing densities. At the same time, different bridged groups present diverse performances with high density (1.86-1.96 g·cm⁻³), excellent detonation properties (V = 8.72 km·s⁻¹-9.20 km·s⁻¹; P = 34.54 GPa-39.49 GPa), outstanding oxygen balance (0%-11.59%), and acceptably impact sensitivity. Especially, tetrazine (M7)-bridged and diaminofurazan (M9)-bridged groups are very helpful for enhancing their detonation performance (V_(M7) = 9.12 km·s⁻¹, P_(M7) = 38.51 GPa; V_(M9) = 9.20 km·s⁻¹, P_(M9) = 39.49 GPa), respectively, which are better than RDX. They could be seen as the potential candidates of high energy density materials (HEDMs).     

Nuclear Spin Isomers: Engineering a Et4N[DyPc2] Spin Qudit

Two dysprosium isotopic isomers were synthesized: Et₄N[¹⁶³DyPc₂] ( 1 ) with I =5/2 and Et₄N[¹⁶⁴DyPc₂] ( 2 ) with I =0 (where Pc=phthalocyaninato). Both isotopologues are single‐molecule magnets (SMMs); however, their relaxation times as well as their magnetic hystereses differ considerably. Quantum tunneling of the magnetization (QTM) at the energy level crossings is found for both systems via ac‐susceptibility and μ‐SQUID measurements. μ‐SQUID studies of 1 ^{(I =5/2)} reveal several nuclear‐spin‐driven QTM events; hence determination of the hyperfine coupling and the nuclear quadrupole splitting is possible. Compound 2 ^{(I =0)} shows only strongly reduced QTM at zero magnetic field. 1 ^{(I =5/2)} could be used as a multilevel nuclear spin qubit, namely qudit (d =6), for quantum information processing (QIP) schemes and provides an example of novel coordination‐chemistry‐discriminating nuclear spin isotopes. Our results show that the nuclear spin of the lanthanide must be included in the design principles of molecular qubits and SMMs.     

Reversible Hyperpolarization of Ketoisocaproate Using Sulfoxide-containing Polarization Transfer Catalysts

The substrate scope of sulfoxide-containing magnetisation transfer catalysts is extended to hyperpolarize α-ketoisocaproate and α-ketoisocaproate-1-[¹³C]. This is achieved by forming [Ir(H)₂(κ²-ketoisocaproate)(N-heterocyclic carbene)(sulfoxide)] which transfers latent magnetism from p-H₂ via the signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) process. The effect of polarization transfer field on the formation of enhanced ¹³C magnetization is evaluated. Consequently, performing SABRE in a 0.5 μT field enabled most efficient magnetisation transfer. ¹³C NMR signals for α-ketoisocaproate-1-[¹³C] in methanol-d₄ are up to 985-fold more intense than their traditional Boltzmann derived signal intensity (0.8 % ¹³C polarisation). Single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals the formation of the novel catalyst decomposition products [Ir(μ-H)(H)₂(IMes)(SO(Ph)(Me)₂)]₂ and [(Ir(H)₂(IMes)(SO(Me)₂))₂(μ-S)] when the sulfoxides methylphenylsulfoxide and dimethylsulfoxide are used respectively.     

Phosphorescent Cationic Iridium (III) Complexes with 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Cyclometalating Ligands:Solvent-Dependent Excited-State Dynamics

To elucidate the nature of low-lying triplet states and the effect of ligand modifications on the excited-state properties of functional cationic iridium complexes,the solventdependent excited-state dynamics of two phosphorescent cationic iridium (III) complexes,namely[Ir (dph-oxd)₂(bpy)]PF₆( 1 ) and[Ir (dph-oxd)₂(pzpy)]PF₆( 2 ),were investigated by femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.Upon photoexcitation to the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) states,the excited-state dynamics shows a rapid process (τ=0.7-3 ps) for the formation of solvent stabilized ³MLCT states,which significantly depends on the solvent polarity for both 1 and 2 .Sequentially,a relatively slow process assigned to the vibrational cooling/geometrical relaxation and a long-lived phosphorescent emissive state is identified.Due to the different excited-state electronic structures regulated by ancillary ligands,the solvation-induced stabilization of the ³MLCT state in 1 is faster than that in 2 .The present results provide a better sight of excited-state relaxation dynamics of ligand-related iridium (III) complexes and solvation effects on triplet manifolds.     

Terminal Ligand and Packing Effects on Slow Relaxation in an Isostructural Set of [Dy(H2dapp)X2]+ Single Molecule Magnets**

We report three structurally related single ion Dy compounds using the pentadentate ligand 2,6-bis((E)-1-(2-(pyridin-2-yl)-hydrazineylidene)ethyl)pyridine (H₂dapp) [Dy(H₂dapp)(NO₃)₂]NO₃ ( 1 ), [Dy(H₂dapp)(OAc)₂]Cl ( 2 ) and [Dy(H₂dapp)(NO₃)₂]Cl_0.92(NO₃)_0.08 ( 3 ). The (H₂dapp) occupies a helical twisted pentagonal equatorial arrangement with two anionic ligands in the axial positions. Further influence on the electronic and magnetic structure is provided by a closely associated counterion interacting with the central N−H group of the (H₂dapp). The slow relaxation of the magnetisation shows that the anionic acetates give the greatest slowing down of the magnetisation reversal. Further influence on the relaxation properties of compounds 1 and 2 is the presence of short nitrate-nitrate intermolecular ligand contact opening further lattice relaxation pathways.     

Chiral single-molecule magnet with a 35 K energy barrier for relaxation of the magnetization

The reaction of [Mn^II(S-mandelato)₂] complexes with 5-Methyl-salicylaldoxim (5-Me-saloxH₂) leads to the chiral hexanuclear manganese(III) complex [Mn₆(μ₃-O)₂(5-Me-salox)₆(S-mandelato)₂(EtOH)₆]. The structure can be viewed as two neutral stacked {Mn₃(μ₃-O)(5-Me-salox)₃(S-mandelato)(EtOH)₃} triangular subunits linked together in a head-to-tail manner by two phenoxo and two oximato μ₃-oxygen atoms of the deprotonated oxime groups of the ligands. The magnetic study of this chiral hexanuclear manganese(III) complex reveals a SMM behaviour with an energy barrier of the slow relaxation of the magnetisation equal to 35 K. Considering the structural features, the fitting of the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility gives a good agreement with the experimental data considering two sets of interactions: J₁ = +0.37 cm⁻¹ and J₂ = −0.70 cm⁻¹ within (ferromagnetic) and between (antiferromagnetic), respectively, the {Mn₃(μ₃-O)(5-Me-salox)₃(S-mandelato)(EtOH)₃} triangular subunits.     

Influence of the Coordinated Transition Metal Ion on Magnetic Relaxation of Lanthanide Based Complexes with Imino Nitroxide Biradical Ligands

In spite of achievement of a lot of Ln-radical SMMs, how to improve magnetic behavior of Ln-radical system remains challenging. Here, two series of Ln-radical complexes have successfully been built using an imino nitroxide biradical, namely, [Ln₂(hfac)₆(ImPhPyobis)₂] (Ln^III=Gd 1 , Tb 2 , Dy 3 ) and [Ln₂Cu₂(hfac)₁₀(ImPhPyobis)₂] (Ln^III=Gd 4 , Dy 5 ; hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate and ImPhPyobis=5-(4-oxypyridinium-1-yl)-1,3-bis(1’-oxyl-4’,4’,5’,5’-tetramethyl-4,5-hydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzene). For these biradical-metal complexes, two imino nitroxide biradicals bind two Ln(III) ions via their oxygen atoms coming from 4-oxypyridinium units to produce a binuclear {Ln₂O₂} unit. Those imino nitroxide groups are free for complexes 1 – 3 , however one of imino nitroxide groups of the biradical is ligated to the copper(II) ion for complexes 4 and 5 . The distinct magnetic relaxation behaviors are observed for two Dy derivatives, as revealed by ac magnetic studies: complex 3 presents one magnetic process with the effective energy barrier(U_eff) of 74.0 K while complex 5 exhibits dual relaxation processes with U_eff values for the fast- and slow-relaxation being 20.2 K and 30.9 K, respectively, which implies that the second coordination sphere of Dy ion plays a critical role for magnetic relaxation.     

Influence of Excitation of the Lanthanide 4 fShell on Complexation with Organic Substrates in Solutions: 1. The Complexation of the β-Diketonate Tris(heptafluorodimethyloctanedionato)europium(III) with Sulfoxides in Benzene Solutions

Complexation of sulfoxides R¹R²S=O with the -diketonate Eu(fod)₃(fod is heptafluorodimethyloctanedionato) in the ground and excited states in benzene solutions was studied. Excitation of Eu(fod)₃was found to increase the formation constants and to reverse the sign of the enthalpy of complexation. The compensation effect was observed for the thermodynamic parameters: S ₀= (3.4 ± 0.4) × 10^–3H ₀+ (50.0 ± 4.7) in the ground state and S ^* ₀= (3.2 ± 0.4) × 10^–3H ^* ₀+ (62.0 ± 0.6) in the excited state of Eu(fod)₃. The enhancement of the stability of the complexes [Eu(fod)^* ₃· R¹R²S=O] is due to an increase in the entropy of complexation upon excitation of f–ftransitions in Eu(III).