Large magnetic anisotropy in pentacoordinate Ni(II) complexes

Pentacoordinate complexes in which Ni(II) is chelated by the tridentate macrocyclic ligand 1,4,7-triisopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (iPrtacn) of formula [Ni(iPrtacn)X(2)] (X=Cl, Br, NCS) have relatively large magnetic anisotropies, revealed by the large zero-field splitting (zfs) axial parameters |D| of around 15 cm(-1) measured by frequency-domain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (FDMRS) and high-field high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-HFEPR). The spin Hamiltonian parameters for the three complexes were determined by analyzing the FDMRS spectra at different temperatures in zero applied magnetic field in an energy window between 0 and 40 cm(-1). The same parameters were determined from analysis of HF-HFEPR data measured at different frequencies (285, 380, and 475 GHz) and at 7 and 17 K. The spin Hamiltonian parameters D (axial) and E (rhombic) were calculated for the three complexes in the framework of the angular overlap model (AOM). The nature and magnitude of the magnetic anisotropy of the three complexes and the origin of the influence of the X atoms were analyzed by performing systematic calculations on model complexes.     

Glycoligands tuning the magnetic anisotropy of Ni(II) complexes

Two organic ligands based on a sugar-scaffold derived from galactose and possessing three O-CH(2)-pyridine pendant arms at the 3-, 4-, and 5-positions of the galactopyranose that act as chelates afford mononuclear complexes when reacted with a Ni(II) salt. The magnetization behavior in the form of M=f(H/T) plots suggests the presence of appreciable magnetic anisotropy within the two complexes. The analysis of the EPR spectra performed at two different temperatures (7 and 17 K) and at three frequencies (190, 285, and 380 GHz) leads to the conclusion that the anisotropy has a high degree of axiality (E/D=0.17 for the two complexes), but with a different sign of the D parameter. The spin hamiltonian parameters D and E were reproduced for the two complexes by using calculations based on the angular overlap model (AOM). The structural difference between the two complexes responsible of the sign of the D parameters was also determined using AOM calculations. A thorough analysis of the structures showed that the structural differences in the coordination sphere of the two complexes responsible of the different D parameter sign result from the nature of the sugar scaffolds. In complex 1, the sugar scaffold imposes an intramolecular hydrogen bond with one of the atoms linked to Ni(II); this arrangement leads to a distorted coordination sphere and positive D value, while the absence of such a hydrogen bond in complex 2 leads to a less distorted environment around the Ni center and to a negative D value.     

A New Family of Trinuclear Nickel(II) Complexes as Single‐Molecule Magnets

Three new trinuclear nickel (II) complexes with the general composition [Ni₃L₃(OH)(X)](ClO₄) have been prepared in which X=Cl^? ( 1 ), OCN^? ( 2 ), or N₃^? ( 3 ) and HL is the tridentate N,N,O donor Schiff base ligand 2‐[(3‐dimethylaminopropylimino)methyl]phenol. Single‐crystal structural analyses revealed that all three complexes have a similar Ni₃ core motif with three different types of bridging, namely phenoxido (μ₂ and μ₃), hydroxido (μ₃), and μ₂‐Cl ( 1 ), μ_1,1‐NCO ( 2 ), or μ_1,1‐N₃ ( 3 ). The nickel(II) ions adopt a compressed octahedron geometry. Single‐crystal magnetization measurements on complex 1 revealed that the pseudo‐three‐fold axis of Ni₃ corresponds to a magnetic easy axis, being consistent with the magnetic anisotropy expected from the coordination structure of each nickel ion. Temperature‐dependent magnetic measurements indicated ferromagnetic coupling leading to an S=3 ground state with 2J/k=17, 17, and 28 K for 1 , 2 , and 3 , respectively, with the nickel atoms in an approximate equilateral triangle. The high‐frequency EPR spectra in combination with spin Hamiltonian simulations that include zero‐field splitting parameters D_Ni/k=?5, ?4, and ?4 K for 1 , 2 , and 3 , respectively, reproduced the EPR spectra well after a anisotropic exchange term was introduced. Anisotropic exchange was identified as D_i,j/k=?0.9, ?0.8, and ?0.8 K for 1 , 2 , and 3 , respectively, whereas no evidence of single‐ion rhombic anisotropy was observed spectroscopically. Slow relaxation of the magnetization at low temperatures is evident from the frequency‐dependence of the out‐of‐phase ac susceptibilities. Pulsed‐field magnetization recorded at 0.5 K shows clear steps in the hysteresis loop at 0.5–1 T, which has been assigned to quantum tunneling, and is characteristic of single‐molecule magnets.     

Photoswitching of the magnetic interaction between a copper(II) ion and a nitroxide radical by using a photochromic spin coupler

Photoswitching of an intramolecular spin exchange interaction between a copper(II) ion and a nitroxyl radical by using a metal complex of diarylethene has been studied by means of ESR spectroscopy. As a coordination ligand, a diarylethene with a 1,10-phenanthroline ring and nitronyl nitroxide radical was synthesized. Mixing the diarylethene ligand with [Cu(hfac)(2)] (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetone) in toluene led to a hypsochromic shift of the absorption maxima of the closed-ring isomer due to complexation. ESR measurement in toluene at room temperature of the open-ring isomer of the Cu(II) complex gave a spectrum that is a superposition of the spectra from the nitroxide radical and Cu(II). When the sample was irradiated with 366 nm light, a new peak due to large exchange interaction appeared between those of the nitroxyl radical and Cu(II). This ESR measurement revealed that the magnitude of the spin exchange interaction was changed by more than 160-fold by photoirradiation. This is the largest magnetic photoswitching phenomenon recorded in diarylethene systems.     

EPR characterisation of Cu(II) complexes of poly(propylene imine) dendromesogens: using the orienting effect of a magnetic field.

Liquid-crystalline derivatives of poly(propylene imine)dendrimers of the 0th, 1st and 2nd generations, complexed with copper(II) ions, were studied by EPR spectroscopy. The structures of copper (II) complexes with different Cu(II) loadings x per dendrimer ligand L (x = Cu/L) were determined. At the lowest concentration, the Cu(II) ions form monomeric complexes with approximately square-planar N2O2 coordination of both carbonyl oxygen and amido nitrogen atoms. At higher copper content, two kinds of Cu(II) complex sites with different geometries exist. The orienting effect of a high magnetic field was used to investigate the structure and magnetic properties of the copper(II) complexes. This effect, for the first time in dendrimers, allowed the resolution of five nitrogen super-hyperfine lines on g(z) components with the unusual coupling constant of a(Nz)= 35.9 x 10(-4) cm(-1). The combination of the magnetic parameters and the orienting effect indicates the presence of a monomeric complex with pseudotetrahedral N2O2 coordination of the Cu(II) ion, as well as a "dimer" structure with fivefold coordination, presumably due to an N3O2 environment. Higher copper loadings lead to increased exchange coupling between the complex sites.     

Electron spin relaxation time of Ni(II) ion in hexapyrazole zinc(II) dinitrate at 300 K

Understanding the electron spin relaxation properties of paramagnetic species is a fundamental requirement to use them as a probe to measure distances between sites in biomolecules by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Even though Ni(II) ion is an essential trace element for many species, relaxation properties are not well understood. Herein, the polycrystalline sample of Ni(II) ion magnetically diluted in Zn(Pyrazole)₆(NO₃)₂ (Ni/ZPN) has been studied in detail by EPR spectroscopy to explore the electron spin relaxation time. Progressive continuous-wave (CW) EPR power saturation study on Ni/ZPN at 300 K yielded 907 mW as the P_1/2 value. The cavity constant (K_Q) has been calculated using tempol in PVA-BA glass matrix and the product of electron spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) and spin–spin relaxation time (T₂) for Ni/ZPN at 300 K has been reported for the first time.     

Oximato-bridged copper(II) compounds: syntheses,molecular structures,magnetic, thermal and spectroscopic properties

Reaction of the Schiff base, 1-(4-methylimidazol-5-yl) phenylhydrazonopropane-2-one oxime (LH), with copper(II) perchlorate hexahydrate and copper(II) nitrate trihydrate in a 1 : 1 M proportion in methanol affords [Cu₂L₂(H₂O)(ClO₄)](ClO₄) (1) and [Cu₂L₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂] (2) in moderate yields. Both 1 and 2 have been characterized by elemental analysis, ESI-MS, FT-IR, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, EPR, electric conductivity, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The X-ray crystal structures of 1·CH₃COCH₃ and 2 have been determined. Both compounds are dinuclear copper(II) complexes, with each copper μ₂-bridged by two oxime ligands in a μ₂-η¹,η² fashion. Variable temperature magnetic studies on 1 and 2 show that both compounds are dominated by an antiferromagnetic coupling through the oxime bridges.     

Homoleptic Organoderivatives of High‐Valent Nickel(III)

Homoleptic perhalophenyl derivatives of divalent nickel complexes with the general formula [NBu₄]₂[Ni^II (C₆X₅)₄] [X=F ( 1 ), Cl ( 2 )] have been prepared by low‐temperature treatment of the halo‐complex precursor [NBu₄]₂[NiBr₄] with the corresponding organolithium reagent LiC₆X₅. Compounds 1 and 2 are electrochemically related by reversible one‐electron exchange processes with the corresponding organometallate(III) compounds [NBu₄][Ni^III (C₆X₅)₄] [X=F ( 3 ), Cl ( 4 )]. The potentials of the [Ni^III (C₆X₅)₄]^?/[Ni^II (C₆X₅)₄]^2? couples are +0.07 and ?0.11 V for X=F or Cl, respectively. Compounds 3 and 4 have also been prepared and isolated in good yield by chemical oxidation of 1 or 2 with bromine or the amminium salt [N(C₆H₄Br‐4)₃][SbCl₆]. The [Ni^III (C₆X₅)₄]^? species have SP‐4 structures in the salts 3 and 4 , as established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction methods. The [Ni^II (C₆F₅)₄]^2? ion in the parent compound 1 has also been found to exhibit a rather similar SP‐4 structure. According to their SP‐4 geometry, the Ni^III compounds (d⁷) behave as S=1/2 systems both at microscopic (EPR) and macroscopic levels (ac and dc magnetization measurements). The spin Hamiltonian parameters obtained from the analysis of the magnetic behavior of 3 and 4 within the framework of ligand field theory show that the unpaired electron is centered mainly on the metal atom, with >97 % estimated d contribution. Thermal decomposition of 3 and 4 proceeds with formation of the corresponding C₆X₅? C₆X₅ coupling compounds.     

Exploring the effect of metal ions and counteranions on the structure and magnetic properties of five dodecanuclear Co(II) and Ni(II) clusters

We present the synthesis, characterization of the structures, and magnetic properties of five isostructural dodecanuclear coordination clusters of Ni(II) and Co(II): [Co(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(EtOH)(6)](NO(3))(5) (1), [Ni(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(H(2)O)(3)(EtOH)(3)](NO(3))(5)·2H(2)O (2), mixed-metal composition (Ni/Co 1:1) [Co(6)Ni(6)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(NO(3))(5) (3), and [M(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(EtOH)(6)](ClO(4))(5) (M=Co (4), Ni (5)), in which Hbm=(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methanol. They consist of analogous structural cores that are constructed by three cubanes (M(4)O(4)) that surround the templating nitrate and bridging auxiliary acetate and the directing ligands bm. They have different magnetic behaviors. Whereas there is the absence of the out-of-phase ac susceptibility (χ') for the Ni(II)-based compounds 2 and 5, the Co(II)-containing compounds 1, 3, and 4 have prominent χ' signals that exhibit frequency dependence, which indicates slow magnetic relaxation behavior above 1.8 K. In particular, the larger perchlorate counterions in 4 further change the overall correlation interaction between clusters, thus leading to an enhanced blocking temperature for the less-symmetrical 4 (pseudo-C(3)) relative to 1 and 3 (true C(3)). Interestingly, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) indicates that the three dodecanuclear clusters of 1-3 retain their compositions in solution. The mixed-metal cluster cores of 3 are formed based on the nature of the interchangeability between metal centers in solution.     

A Ferromagnetically Coupled (S=1) Peroxodicopper(II) Complex

Copper enzymes play important roles in the binding and activation of dioxygen in biological systems. Key copper/dioxygen intermediates have been identified and studied in synthetic analogues of the metalloprotein active sites, including the μ‐η²:η²‐peroxodicopper(II) motif relevant to type III dicopper proteins. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a bioinspired dicopper system that forms a stable μ‐η¹:η¹‐peroxo complex whose Cu‐O‐O‐Cu torsion is constrained to around 90° by ligand design. This results in sizeable ferromagnetic coupling between the copper(II) ions, which is detected by magnetic measurements and HF‐EPR spectroscopy. The new dicopper peroxo system is the first with a triplet ground state, and it represents a snapshot of the initial stages of O₂ binding at type III dicopper sites.     

Interpretation of EPR and optical spectra of Ni(II) ions in crystalline lattices at ambient temperature

Many biologically important paramagnetic metal ions are characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to use as spin probes to investigate the structure and function of biomolecules. Though nickel(II) ions are an essential trace element and part of many biomolecules, the EPR properties are least understood. Herein, the EPR and optical absorption spectra measured at 300 K for Ni(II) ions diluted in two different diamagnetic hosts are investigated and reported. The EPR spectrum of a polycrystalline Ni/Mg(3-methylpyrazole)₆(ClO₄)₂ [Ni/MMPC] shows two transitions at X-band frequency (~9.5 GHz), suggesting the zero-field splitting parameter (D) is larger than the resonance field of the free electron (H_o). This incomplete and complex spectrum is successfully analyzed to obtain EPR parameters. The EPR spectrum of the polycrystalline Ni/Zn(pyrazole)₆(NO₃)₂ [Ni/ZPN] shows a triplet spectrum indicating D < H_o. A detailed analysis of single-crystal EPR data yielded the spin Hamiltonian parameters. The optical absorption spectra are deconvoluted to understand the symmetry of the coordination environment in the complex.     

A novel Ni(4) complex exhibiting microsecond quantum tunneling of the magnetization

A highly asymmetric Ni(II) cluster [Ni(4)(OH)(OMe)(3)(Hphpz)(4)(MeOH)(3)](MeOH) (1) (H(2)phpz=3-methyl-5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazole) has been prepared and its structure determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction by using synchrotron radiation. Variable-temperature bulk-magnetization measurements show that the complex exhibits intramolecular-ferromagnetic interactions leading to a spin ground state S=4 with close-lying excited states. Magnetization and high-frequency EPR measurements suggest the presence of sizable Ising-type magnetic anisotropy, with zero-field splitting parameters D=-0.263 cm(-1) and E=0.04 cm(-1) for the spin ground state, and an isotropic g value of 2.25. The presence of both axial and transverse anisotropy was confirmed through low-temperature specific heat determinations down to 300 mK, but no slow relaxation of the magnetization was observed by AC measurements down to 1.8 K. Interestingly, AC susceptibility measurements down to temperatures as low as 23 mK showed no indication of slow relaxation of the magnetization in 1. Thus, despite the presence of an anisotropy barrier (U approximately 4.21 cm(-1) for the purely axial limit), the magnetization relaxation remains extremely fast down to the lowest temperatures. The estimated quantum tunneling rate, Gamma>0.667 MHz, makes this complex a prime candidate for observation of coherent tunneling of the magnetization.     

Structure and magnetic properties of a mixed‐ligand copper(II) complex

The hydrothermal synthesis of the novel complex poly[[μ₂‐N¹,N⁴‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxamide‐κ²N³:N^3′](μ₄‐phthalato‐κ⁴O¹:O¹:O^1′:O^2′)copper(II)], [Cu(C₈H₄O₄)(C₂₂H₁₆N₄O₂)]_n, is described. With the phthalate ligand connecting neighbouring Cu^II cations, an infinite one‐dimensional chain is formed. Adjacent one‐dimensional chains are connected by the dicarboxamide ligand, forming an intriguing two‐dimensional framework. The magnetic properties and thermal stability of this complex are also described.