Synthesis of novel aromatic nitroxides as potential DNA intercalators. An EPR spectroscopical and DFT computational study

The synthesis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic properties of three novel aromatic nitroxides and potential DNA intercalators, the carbazole-based 3,6-dimethylcarbazole-9-oxyl, as well as the acridane-based 9-acridanylidenemalonitrile-10-oxyl and 9-ethylacridanylidenecyanoacetate-10-oxyl, are described. The two acridane-based nitroxides can be isolated and are stable in solution as well as in the solid state for several days. Continuous wave X-band EPR measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the spin density is delocalized over the whole molecule in all three cases. Furthermore, the DFT calculations provided insight into the molecular and electronic structures of these nitroxides and yielded hyperfine coupling constants which are in very good agreement with the experimental data allowing therefore an unambiguous assignment of the hyperfine couplings.     

Magnetic exchange couplings in the single-molecule magnet of Mn(12)-Ac

Four types of isotropic exchange interactions of Mn(12)-Ac are obtained by using the classical Monte Carlo simulations. The equilibrium susceptibilities are well reproduced in the temperature range between 10 and 100 K. The calculated effective spin at 0.1 K coincides with the ground-state spin. Our results show that J(1) and J(2) are strong antiferromagnetic, but the magnitude of J(2) is much smaller than that of J(1). Both J(3) and J(4) favor weakly antiferromagnetic couplings. The effects of the exchange couplings on the magnetic properties and ground-state spin are investigated too. The magnetic susceptibilities below 100 K depend more on J(2) rather than on the stronger J(1). The weak exchange couplings J(3) and J(4) have significant frustration effects on the ground-state configuration.     

Preparation, structure, and magnetic interaction of a Mn(hfac)2-bridged [2-(3-pyridyl)(nitronyl nitroxide)-Mn(hfac)2]2 chain complex

A new one-dimensional chain complex, Mn(hfac)(2)-bridged [2-(3-pyridyl)(nitronyl nitroxide)Mn(hfac)(2)](2), was prepared and its structure and magnetic properties were elucidated; the complex exhibited a large antiferromagnetic interaction of J(1)=-185 K between the three Mn(ii) atoms and the two nitronyl nitroxides to give S=13/2 spin units and a small ferromagnetic interaction of J(3)'=+0.02 K between these spin units at low temperatures (50-1.9 K), compatible with the theoretical analysis for model compounds.     

1,3-Alternate calix[4]arene nitronyl nitroxide tetraradical and diradical: synthesis, X-ray crystallography, paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy, and magnetic studies

Calix[4]arenes constrained to 1,3-alternate conformation and functionalized at the upper rim with four and two nitronyl nitroxides have been synthesized, and characterized by X-ray crystallography, magnetic resonance (EPR and ¹H NMR) spectroscopy, and magnetic studies. Such calix[4]arene tetraradicals and diradicals provide scaffolds for through-bond and through-space intramolecular exchange couplings.     

19F and 1H NMR and ESR investigations of aryl-t-butyl nitroxides and nitronylnitroxides

¹H and ¹⁹F NMR and ESR spectra of several nitroxides have been recorded. The ¹⁹F couplings are sensitive to steric factors and this shows why the simple linear relationship a_F = O_eff^F· ?_C^π is not adequate. The π and σ spin delocalization mechanisms are demonstrated. The spin transmission via oxygen and sulphur is affected by geometry (efficiency of pπ-nπ overlap), pπ-dπ overlap only plays a role in positively charged S atoms (sulphones). The absolute sign of the proton coupling in an alkyl chain depends upon chain length and substituents. The syntheses of several stable nitroxides are described.     

Thermally induced spin transitions in nitroxide-copper(II)-nitroxide spin triads studied by EPR

Thermally induced spin transitions in a family of heterospin polymer chain complexes of Cu2+ hexafluoroacetylacetonate with two pyrazole-substituted nitronyl nitroxides are studied using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The structural rearrangements at low temperatures induce spin transitions in exchange-coupled spin triads of nitroxide-copper(II)-nitroxide. The values of exchange interactions in spin triads of studied systems are typically on the order of tens to hundreds of inverse centimeters. The large magnitude of exchange interaction determines the specific and very informative peculiarities in EPR spectra due to the predominant population of the ground state of a spin triad and spin exchange processes. The variety of these manifestations depending on structure and magnetic properties of spin triads are described. EPR is demonstrated as an efficient tool for the characterization of spin transitions and for obtaining information on the temperature-dependent sign and value of the exchange interaction in strongly coupled spin triads.     

Azobenzene‐bridged diradical janus nucleobases with photo‐converted magnetic properties between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic couplings

We computationally design a series of azobenzene (AB)‐bridged double radicalized nucleobases, a novel kind of diradical Janus‐type nucleobases, and explore their spin coupling characteristics. Calculations prove that such diradical Janus‐bases not only normally match with their complementary bases, but also exhibit well‐defined diradical character with photo‐convertible intramolecular magnetic couplings (antiferromagnetic vs. ferromagnetic). Combination of four radical nucleobases (rG, rA, rC, rT) and photoswitch AB can yield 10 diradical Janus‐bases with different magnetic characteristics in which AB functions a bridge to mediate the spin coupling between two radical bases. The trans‐form supports mild antiferromagnetic couplings with the spin coupling constants (J) ranging from −153.6 cm⁻¹ to −50.91 cm⁻¹ while the cis‐form has weak magnetic couplings with ferromagnetic (0.22–8.50 cm⁻¹) for most of them or antiferromagnetic (−0.77, −1.73, −3.30 cm⁻¹) properties for only three. Further structural examination and frontier molecular orbital analyses indicate that the extended π conjugation for better spin polarization provides an effective through‐π‐bond pathway to mediate the spin coupling in the trans conformation while nonplanarity of the cis conformation weakens the through‐bond coupling and causes a competitive through‐space pathway and as an overall result inhibits the spin coupling between two spin moieties. Meanwhile, we also find that the J values of the cis conformation vary with their angle between the radical base and its linked phenylene. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of the diradical Janus‐bases can be significantly increased by interacting with metal ions. They also maintain a good UV absorption characteristics and there is a clear redshift compared with AB. This work provides a promising strategy for the rational design of photo‐convertible Janus‐base magnets as the magnetism‐tunable DNA building blocks. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

DFT-BS study on the magnetic coupling interaction in a series of (R-Bpmp)Mn2(μ-OAc)2 complexes

The magnetic properties of a series of dinuclear Mn^II systems are investigated by the calculations based on density functional theory combined with broken-symmetry approach (DEF-BS). It is found that there are weak antiferromagnetic interactions in these systems with different bridging ligands. The changing trend of the magnetic coupling constants J indicates that with the electronegativity of the increasing bridging ligands, the antiferromagnetic coupling interaction is weakened. The analyses of the magnetic orbitals and the spin densities show that the weakly antiferromagnetic couplings in these systems are due to the vertical magnetic d orbitals and the weak spin delocalization. These results should be instructive for the design of new molecular magnetic materials.     

Theory of long-lived nuclear spin states in solution nuclear magnetic resonance. I. Singlet states in low magnetic field

We have recently demonstrated the existence of exceptionally long-lived nuclear spin states in solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance. The lifetime of nuclear spin singlet states in systems containing coupled pairs of spins-12 may exceed the conventional relaxation time constant T1 by more than an order of magnitude. These long lifetimes may be observed if the long-lived singlet states are prevented from mixing with rapidly relaxing triplet states. In this paper we provide the detailed theory of an experiment which uses magnetic field cycling to observe slow singlet relaxation. An approximate expression is given for the magnetic field dependence of the singlet relaxation rate constant, using a model of intramolecular dipole-dipole couplings and fluctuating external random fields.     

Physical analysis of the through-ligand long-distance magnetic coupling: spin-polarization versus Anderson mechanism

The physical factors governing the magnetic coupling between two magnetic sites are analyzed and quantified as functions of the length of the bridging conjugated ligand. Using wave-function-theory based ab initio calculations, it has been possible to separate and calculate the various contributions to the magnetic coupling, i.e. the direct exchange, the spin polarization and the kinetic exchange. It is shown in model systems that while the Anderson mechanism brings the leading contribution for short-length ligands, the spin polarization dominates the through-long-ligand couplings. Since the spin polarization decreases more slowly than the kinetic exchange, highly spin polarizable bridging ligands would generate a good magneto-communication between interacting magnetic units.     

Electron spin exchange processes in strongly coupled spin triads

The complexes of Cu2+ hexafluoroacetylacetonate with two pyrazol-substituted nitronyl nitroxides are the choice systems to study the spin dynamics of strongly exchange-coupled spin triads. The large values of exchange coupling (ca. 100 cm-1) and high-resolution electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at Q- and W-bands (35 and 94 GHz) allowed us to observe and interpret specific characteristics of these systems. An electron spin exchange process has been found between different multiplets of the spin triad, which manifests itself as a significant shift of the EPR line position with temperature. We propose that the spin exchange process is caused by the modulation of exchange interaction between copper and nitroxides by lattice vibrations. The estimations of the rate of exchange process and model calculations essentially support the observed phenomena. The studied characteristics of strongly coupled spin triads explain previously obtained results, agree with literature, and should be accounted for in future investigations of similar spin systems.     

Coordination complexes of 2-(4-quinolyl)nitronyl nitroxide with M(hfac)(2) [M = Mn(II), Co(II), and Cu(II)]: syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetic characterization

Three new complexes of the formula M(2)L(2) derived from 2-(4-quinolyl)nitronyl nitroxide (4-QNNN) and M(hfac)(2) [M = Mn(II), Co(II), and Cu(II)], (4-QNNN)(2).[Mn(hfac)(2)](2) (1), (4-QNNN)(2).[Co(hfac)(2)](2).2H(2)O (2), and (4-QNNN)(2).Cu(hfac)(2).Cu'(hfac)(2) (3), were synthesized and characterized structurally as well as magnetically. Complexes 1 and 2 are four-spin complexes with quadrangle geometry, in which both the nitrogen atoms of quinoline rings and oxygen atoms of nitronyl nitroxides are involved in the formation of coordination bonds. For complex 3, however, the nitrogen atoms of quinoline rings are coordinated with Cu(II) ion to afford a three-spin complex, which is further linked to another molecule of Cu(hfac)(2) (referred to as Cu'(hfac)(2)) to form a 1D alternating chain. The magnetic behaviors of the three complexes were investigated. For complex 1, as the nitronyl nitroxides and Mn(II) ions are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled, consequently its temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility was fitted to the model of spin-dimer with S = 2, yielding the intradimer magnetic exchange constant of J = -0.82 cm(-1). For complex 2, the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility in the T > 50 K region was simulated with the model of two-spin unit with S(1) = 3/2 and S(2) = 1/2, leading to J = -321.9 cm(-1) for the magnetic interaction due to Co(II).O coordination bonding, D = -16.3 cm(-1) (the zero-field splitting parameter), g = 2.26, and zJ = -3.8 cm(-1) for the magnetic interactions between Co(II) ions and nitronyl nitroxides through quinoline rings and those between nitronyl nitroxides due to the short O.O short contacts. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility of 3 was approximately fitted to a model described previously affording J(1) = -6.52 cm(-1) and J(2) = 3.64 cm(-1) for the magnetic interaction between nitronyl nitroxides and Cu(II) ions through the quinoline unit via spin polarization mechanism and the weak O.Cu coordination bonding, respectively.     

Analysis of the magnetic coupling in nitroxide organic biradicals

The magnetic coupling in organic biradicals has been analyzed by means of ab initio wave function-based methods. Attention is focused on the coupling between the spin moments localized on the NO-groups in meta and para phenylene-bridged nitroxides, and bis(nitronyl) nitroxide and bis(imino) nitroxide biradicals. The leading mechanisms governing the coupling have been isolated by means of class-partitioned CI calculations. It was found that the mechanisms of the coupling in the para and meta phenylene-bridged nitroxides are similar to that found in transition metal complexes, while for the other biradicals the dominance of other mechanisms (like the spin polarization) imposes restrictions on the computational strategy to be followed to best estimate the coupling.     

Determination of internuclear distances in uniformly labeled molecules by rotational-resonance solid-state NMR

Rotational-resonance magic-angle spinning NMR experiments are frequently used to measure dipolar couplings and to determine internuclear distances. So far most measurements were performed on samples containing isolated spin pairs. Thus, extensive structure elucidation, for example in biomolecules, requires the preparation of a whole set of doubly labeled samples. Here, we describe the analysis of the rotational-resonance polarization-exchange curves obtained from a single, uniformly labeled sample. It is shown experimentally that, at a magnetic field of 14.09 T, the rotational-resonance conditions in uniformly (13)C-labeled threonine are sufficiently narrow to permit the measurement of five distances between the four carbon spins with an accuracy of better than 10%. The polarization-exchange curves are analyzed using a modified two-spin model consisting of the two active spins. The modified model includes an additional offset in the final polarization, which comes from the coupling to the additional, passive, spins. The validity of this approach is experimentally verified for uniformly (13)C-labeled threonine. The broader applicability of such a model is demonstrated by numerical simulations which quantify the errors as a function of the most relevant parameters in the spin system.     

Magnetic exchange couplings evaluated with Rung 3.5 density functionals

Rung 3.5 exchange-correlation functionals are assessed for the calculation of magnetic exchange coupling parameters and atomic spin populations for a variety of inorganic and organic magnetic systems. Density functional theory calculations of exchange couplings sensitively depend on nonlocal contributions to the exchange-correlation functional. Semilocal functionals, Rungs 1-3 on "Jacob's Ladder" of density functional approximations, yield excessively delocalized electrons and overestimated absolute exchange couplings. Fourth-rung hybrid functionals admixing nonlocal exchange improve the results. We show that new "Rung 3.5" functionals give magnetic properties intermediate between semilocal and hybrid functionals, providing additional evidence that these functionals incorporate some desirable aspects of nonlocal exchange. Results for ferromagnetic complexes indicate areas for future improvement.     

A critical analysis of electronic density functionals for structural,energetic, dynamic,and magnetic properties of hydrogen fluoride clusters

We present extensive computational results on density functional calculations for hydrogen fluoride species (HF)_n (with 1≤n≤6) and compare them to results from other approaches and experiments, where available. Among the calculated properties we discuss equilibrium structural parameters, vibrational frequencies, electric dipole moments, IR intensities, dissociation energies, barriers for rearrangement by proton tunneling, NMR chemical shifts and spin couplings for ¹H and ¹⁹F, and magnetic susceptibilities. It is found that density functional (particularly BLYP) and even more so hybrid approaches (particularly B3LYP) provide useful results. However, we show that due to some characteristic deficiencies, these are in general not competitive with more quantitative results from large basis set MP2 calculations. The calculated magnetic properties do not indicate any “aromaticity” connected to a hypothetical electronic ring current. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18 : 1695–1719, 1997     

3,4-Unsubstituted 2-tert-Butyl-pyrrolidine-1-oxyls with Hydrophilic Functional Groups in the Side Chains

Pyrrolidine nitroxides with four bulky alkyl substituents adjacent to N–O group are known for their high resistance to bioreduction. The 3,4-unsubstituted 2-tert-butyl-2-ethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyls were prepared from the corresponding 2-tert-butyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxides via either the addition of ethinylmagnesium bromide with subsequent hydrogenation or via treatment with ethyllithium. The new nitroxides showed excellent stability to reduction with ascorbate with no evidence for additional large hyperfine couplings in the EPR spectra.     

应用相敏HMQC和HSQC谱准确测定异核碳-氢偶合常数

准确测定各种同核和异核偶合常数是核磁共振（NMR）方法研究的一个非常跃的领域。首先,各种三键偶合常数通过Karplus关系式^[1]反映了相应二面角的大小,因此,多键偶合常数的准确测定直接影响分子结构确定的精确性。其次,由于稀液晶溶剂体系NMR方法的发展^[2],准确测定各种异核键偶合常数也显得非常重要,特别是应用场相关偶合常数研究分子在磁场中的取向时,对异核－键偶合常数测定的准确性要求更加严格^[3]。异核－键偶合常数的最准确的测定方法是异核偶合调制的HSQC（Heteronuclear Single-Quantum Coherence)实验^[3],它通过测定一系列异核耦合调制的二维HSQC谱,对交叉峰的强度进行分析来精确确定相应的异核－键偶合常数。这一方法的缺点是比较费时。作者在异核多键偶合常数的准确测定方面也做了一些有意义的工作^[4-6 α]。在前文^[5]工作的基础上,本文提出了二维相敏HMQC（Heteronuclear Multiple-Quantum Coherence)和HSQC（Heteronuclear Single-Quantum Coherence)实验,用于准确测定异核－键偶合常数。     

Single-molecule magnets beyond a single lanthanide ion: the art of coupling

The promising future of storing and processing quantized information at the molecular level has been attracting the study of Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs) for almost three decades. Although some recent breakthroughs are mainly about the SMMs containing only one lanthanide ion, we believe SMMs can tell a much deeper story than the single-ion anisotropy. Here in this Perspective, we will try to draw a unified picture of SMMs as a delicately coupled spin system between multiple spin centres. The hierarchical couplings will be presented step-by-step, from the intra-atomic hyperfine coupling, to the direct and indirect intra-molecular couplings with neighbouring spin centres, and all the way to the inter-molecular and spin–phonon couplings. Along with the discussions on their distinctive impacts on the energy level structures and thus magnetic behaviours, a promising big picture for further studies is proposed, encouraging the multifaceted developments of molecular magnetism and beyond.

In this Perspective, we draw a unified picture for single-molecule magnets as delicately coupled spin systems, discuss the hierarchical couplings (from intra-atomic to inter-molecular) and their distinctive impacts on the magnetic behaviours.