Mesogenic and magnetic behavior in cobalt(II) and iron(II) compounds with long alkyl chains

Abstract  Metal complexes with long alkyl chains [Co(C16-terpy)₃](BF₄)₂ (1), [Fe(C16-terpy)₂](BF₄)₂ (2), [Co(C16-terpy)₂](BPh₄)₂ (3), [Co(C14-terpy)₂](BF₄)₂ (4), and [Fe(C12C10C5-terpy)₂](BF₄)₂ (5) were synthesized and their physical properties characterized, where C16-terpy, C14-terpy, and C12C10C5-terpy are 4′-hexadecyloxy-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, 4′-tetradecyloxy-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, and 4′-5′′′-decyl-1′′′-heptadecyloxy-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine, respectively. Complexes 1, 2, and 5 exhibited liquid–crystal properties in the temperature ranges of 371–528 K and 466–556 K, and 88–523 K, respectively. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that the Co(II) complexes 1 and 4 exhibited unique spin transitions (T _1/2↓ = 217 K and T _1/2↑ = 260 K for 1 and T _1/2↓ = 250 K and T _1/2↑ = 307 K for 4), so-called ‘reverse spin transition,’ induced by structural phase transitions. Complex 3 exhibited gradual spin-crossover behavior (T _1/2 = 160 K.), and complex 5 exhibited spin transitions (T _1/2↑ = 288 K and T _1/2↓ = 284 K) at the liquid crystal transition temperature. Compounds with multifunction, i.e., magnetic and liquid–crystal properties, are important in the development of molecular materials. Graphical Abstract  

Mesophase and magnetic behavior in cobalt(II) and iron(II) compounds

The metal complexes with long alkyl chains [Co(C16-terpy)₃](BF₄)₂ (1) and [Fe(C16-terpy)₂](BF₄)₂ (2) were synthesized and the physical properties of the complex were characterized by magnetic susceptibility, Mössbauer spectroscopy, polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray scattering, where C16-terpy is 4′-hexadecyloxy-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements and/or Mössbauer studies revealed that the complex 1 exhibited unique spin transition (T_1/2↓ = 217 K and T_1/2↑ = 260 K) induced by structural phase transition, and the complex 2 was in the low-spin state in the temperature region of 5–400 K before the first mesophase transition. The cobalt(II) and iron(II) complexes exhibited liquid-crystal properties in the temperature range of 371–528 K and 466–556 K, respectively. After mesophase transition, the complex 1 exhibited only slight spin transition (T_1/2↓ = 266 K and T_1/2↑ = 279 K), and the complex 2 was in the low-spin state. The compounds with multifunction, i.e., magnetic property and liquid-crystal properties, are important in the development of molecular materials.     

Mesogenic aromatic esters with sulphur containing alkyl chains

A new series of aromatic esters, 1 and 2 with a sulphur atom in one of the side chains, is described. They exhibit nematic and/or smectic A/C mesophases as a function of the length of the alkyloxy chain. The presence of sulphur in the 4-position of the alkanoyloxy chain depresses both the clearing and the melting points with respect to the corresponding carbon analogues 3, resulting from the higher conformational mobility of the thiaalkyl chain. In 2, the presence of a methyl group in the 2-position of the alkanoyloxy chain induces a S_A phase below room temperature.     

Spin transition at the mesophase transition temperature in a cobalt(II) compound with branched alkyl chains

A cobalt(II) compound, [Co(C5C12C10-terpy)2](BF4)2 [C5C12C10-terpy = 4',5' '-decyl-1' '-(heptadecyloxy)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine] with branched alkyl chains, based on a terpyridine frame, was synthesized. The cobalt(II) compound exhibits a spin transition between low-spin and high-spin with a thermal hysteresis loop (T(1/2) upward arrow = 288 K and T(1/2) downward arrow = 284 K) at the liquid-crystal transition temperature. It is the first example in the cobalt(II) compounds in which the spin transition occurs at the crystal-liquid crystal transition temperature.     

NMR study of nickel(II) Schiff base complexes with benzoyl groups and long alkyl chains

The nickel(II) Schiff base complexes with 2-methylbutyl or 2-methylpentyl groups and their benzoyl derivatives have been prepared and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the benzoyl derivatives in chloroform solution can be estimated as follows: the donor set of N₂O₂ has a square planar coordination, the benzoyl substituents are perpendicular to the chelate plane and the long alkyl chains (2-methylbutyl or 2-methylpentyl groups) move segmentally to aproach the benzoyl substituents.     

Enantiopure chiral coordination polymers of tetrahedral and octahedral cobalt(II) alternate chains exhibiting slow magnetic relaxation behavior

The first two chiral homometallic coordination frameworks with homochiral helical [Co(Oct)O(Trp)Co(Td)O(Trp)](n) ferrimagnetic chains, exhibiting a unique coexistence of chirality and slow magnetic relaxation in one material, are reported.     

Photochemical and thermal behavior of light-driven unidirectional molecular motor with long alkyl chains

In order to utilize molecular motors in a molecular device or smart materials, their dynamic behavior when other groups are introduced at key positions has to be examined. A C₁₆ hydrocarbon chain has been introduced at the stereogenic centers of the first generation light-driven molecular motor based on sterically overcrowded biphenanthrylidene. It was found that this derivatization does not affect the unidirectional rotary capability of the motor and does not cause a reduction of its speed, opening new possibility for future functionalizations and applications.     

Unique spin transition and wide thermal hysteresis loop for a cobalt(II) compound with long alkyl chain

The cobalt(II) compounds with long alkyl chains, [Co(C12-terpy)(2)](BF(4))(2)·EtOH·0.5H(2)O(1·EtOH·0.5H(2)O) and [Co(C12-terpy)(2)](BF(4))(2) (1) was synthesized and characterized. The compound 1·EtOH·0.5H(2)O exhibits a "re-entrant spin crossover". The compound 1 exhibits the reentrant spin crossover and multi phase transitions with a wide thermal hysteresis loop.     

Synthesis and structural and magnetic characterization of cobalt(II) phosphonate cage compounds

Reaction of cobalt salts with phosphonic acids in the presence of 6-chloro-2-hydroxypyridine as a co-ligand, normally in its deprotonated form, leads to a series of new polymetallic cobalt cages. The most common structural type is a {Co(14)} cage which resembles a fragment of cobalt hydroxide. Variation of the phosphonate present and the cobalt salt leads to {Co(6)}, {Co(8)}, {Co(10)}, {Co(11)}, {Co(12)}, {Co(13)}, and {Co(20)} cages, all of which have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Magnetic studies of these cages show a general decline in the product chi(m)T with T, but for {Co(6)}, {Co(8)}, and {Co(12)} there are maxima at low temperature, which suggests nondiamagnetic ground states. Investigation of the dynamic behavior of the magnetization of these complexes shows that the octanuclear cage displays slow relaxation of magnetization.     

Metamagnetism and slow magnetic dynamics in an antiferromagnet composed of cobalt(II) chains with mixed azide-carboxylate bridges

A novel 2D metamagnetic compound composed of ferromagnetic Co(II) chains exhibits the intrinsic slow dynamics of single-chain magnets in the antiferromagnetic ordered phase and in the field-induced ferromagnetic phase.     

Nickel(II) and cobalt(II) coordination compounds of dichloroguanidinopyrimidines

Summary New coordination compounds of Ni^II and Co^II with dichloropyrimidinoguanidine (L) have been obtained and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The complexes have the general formulae: [ML₃](ClO₄)₂, [ML₂(SO₄)], [ML₂(NCS)₂], (M = Ni or Co), [NiL₂(ClO₄)₂] and [CoL₂](ClO₄)₂. The ligands are bonded to the metal ion via one nitrogen atom from the pyrimidine heterocyclic ring and one from the guanidine group.     

Iron(II) spin crossover complexes with branched long alkyl chain

The bzimpy iron(II) complexes, 1-3, containing branched long alkyl chains were synthesized and characterized in detail. The temperature-dependant magnetic susceptibility of 1 showed gradual spin crossover behavior from low spin to high spin state, while 2 retained only low spin state in the same condition. Interestingly, 3 displayed an abrupt spin transition in temperature range from T_1/2↑ = 236 K to T_1/2↓ = 230 K with the thermal hysteresis loop about 6 K. The differential scanning calorimetric analysis of 3 revealed two species of liquid crystal phase transitions at 236 K and 351 K, respectively.     

Gas chromatographic properties of two thermotropic Poly(L-glutamates) with long alkyl side chains

Summary Comparative gas chromatographic properties of two thermotropic Poly(L-glutamates) with long alkyl side chains (10 and 16 carbons called Poly 10 and Poly 16 respectively) are studied.Their thermal properties were established with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gas chromatography. They present a cholesteric liquid crystal in a large temperature range.The chromatographic separation abilities of the two polymers in the liquid crystal state were studied using capillary glass columns. Interesting analytical performances were obtained in different fields: isomeric separation of alkanes, aromatics, polyaromatics, volatile aroma compounds and cis and trans isomers. Some differences were noticed in their behaviours; 2 and 3-methyloctane and xylene isomers are separated only on Poly 10 while limonene and eucalyptol are separated only on Poly 16.     

Compression behavior of Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of regioselectively substituted cellulose ethers with long alkyl side chains

Regioselectively substituted alkylcellulose ethers having long alkyl side chains, 6-O- (6C18), 2,3-di-O- (23C18), and tri-O-octadecyl-cellulose (triC18) were successfully synthesized. The key step of these syntheses was removal of the residual alkylation reagent by an isothermal crystallization procedure to isolate and purify the compounds, since a physical entanglement between the long alkyl side chains in the cellulose derivatives and the reagent had caused difficulty in obtaining the purified derivatives. After the monolayers from these cellulose ethers were fabricated on a water surface, they were deposited on substrates by a vertical dipping method to be Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers. During the compression process of each monolayer, a surface pressure (pi)-area (A) isotherm behaved in a different way. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to interpret changes of the surface topography of the obtained LB monolayers depending on the surface pressure. The compressed 23C18 LB monolayer was observed to be more homogeneous than other samples. On the basis of the LB monolayer thickness estimated by AFM as well as X-ray reflection measurements, the 23C18 LB monolayer was assumed to possibly possess the vertical arrangement of an up-ordering of all the alkyl side chains on the individual glucose ring against the water surface. In other words, with increase in the surface pressure, the usual conformation of a 2(1) screw of cellulose backbone may be changed into an unusual conformation with a certain phi-psi dihedral angle resulting in 1-fold axis without a symmetry element. These results suggest that the formation of such compressed LB monolayers was strongly influenced by the hydrophobic interaction among the distribution of the long alkyl side chains in the anhydroglucose unit and further lack of inter- and/or intramolecular hydrogen bonds engaged in cellulose ethers, and as a result, those effects may even change the main chain conformation.     

Gelation properties of poly(aryl ether)dendrons bearing long alkyl chains

Poly(aryl ether) dendrons (2) bearing long alkyl chains can undergo physical gelation in various organic solvents, especially alkanes and alcoholic solvents. In contrast, 3,4,5-trialkoxyphenyl derivatives (1), which are the building blocks of the dendrons (2), do not exhibit any gelation properties; thus, revealing the key role of the dendron structure in the aggregation/gelation process. Hansen solubility parameters allow us to gain a detailed understanding of the role of solvent in gelation. Critical gel concentrations, FT-IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, T _gel measurements, and scanning electron microscopy are used to characterize the gel structures.     

Size and stability of chelate rings in coordination compounds of cobalt(II), manganese(II), iron(III) and palladium(II) with vicinal oxime-imine ligands

Summary Two types of the Co^II complexes L¹Co (H₂L¹=N,N-ethylenebis(isonitrosoacetylacetoneimine) were prepared. In type (a) the chelate rings are five-membered whereas in type (b) they are six-membered. The type (b) complexes were converted to type (a) in refluxing solutions. Half-ionization of the ligand is observed in the complexes HL¹ Co(O₂CMe) and HL¹MnCl, where the chelate rings are five- and six-membered respectively. The octahedral complex L¹FeCl·H₂O has chelate rings of type (a) as does the complex L²Co (H₂L²=unsymmetric Schiff baseN,N-ethylene(isonitrosoacetylacetoneimineacetylacetoneimine). Twocis complexes (L_a ²L_b ³)Pd and (L_a ³)₂Pd are characterized (HL³=isonitrosoacetylacetoneimine, (a) and (b) denote the type of chelate ring). Structures for the metal complexes and the sizes of the chelate rings are suggested on the basis of analytical and spectral evidence.     

Equilibrium studies of beta-diketoaryl azo compounds with cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II)

The interactions of some beta-diketoaryl azo substituted compounds with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) are discussed. The non-protonated form of the ligand is the main complexing species. The stability constants have been evaluated. The effect of substituent groups on the complexing ability of the ligands is discussed.     

Metamagnetism and single-chain magnetic behavior in a homospin one-dimensional iron(II) coordination polymer

Reaction of FeCl(2)·4H(2)O with KNCSe and pyridine in ethanol leads to the formation of the discrete complex [Fe(NCSe)(2)(pyridine)(4)] (1) in which the Fe(II) cations are coordinated by two N-terminal-bonded selenocyanato anions and four pyridine co-ligands. Thermal treatment of compound 1 enforces the removal of half of the co-ligands leading to the formation of a ligand-deficient (lacking on neutral co-ligands) intermediate of composition [Fe(NCSe)(2)(pyridine)(2)](n) (2) to which we have found no access in the liquid phase. Compound 2 is obtained only as a microcrystalline powder, but it is isotypic to [Cd(NCSe)(2)(pyridine)(2)](n) and therefore, its structure was determined by Rietveld refinement. In its crystal structure the metal cations are coordinated by two pyridine ligands and four selenocyanato anions and are linked into chains by μ-1,3 bridging anionic ligands. Magnetic measurements on compound 1 show only paramagnetic behavior, whereas for compound 2 an unexpected magnetic behavior is found, which to the best of our knowledge was never observed before for a iron(II) homospin compound. In this compound metamagnetism and single-chain magnetic behavior coexist. The metamagnetic transition between the antiferromagnetically ordered phase and a field-induced ferromagnetic phase of the high-spin iron(II) spin carriers is observed at a transition field H(C) of 1300 Oe and the single-chain magnetic behavior is characterized by a blocking temperature T(B), estimated to be about 5 K.