On Approaching the Limit of Molecular Magnetic Anisotropy: A Near‐Perfect Pentagonal Bipyramidal Dysprosium(III) Single‐Molecule Magnet

We report a monometallic dysprosium complex, [Dy(O^tBu)₂(py)₅][BPh₄] ( 5 ), that shows the largest effective energy barrier to magnetic relaxation of U_eff=1815(1) K. The massive magnetic anisotropy is due to bis‐trans‐disposed tert‐butoxide ligands with weak equatorial pyridine donors, approaching proposed schemes for high‐temperature single‐molecule magnets (SMMs). The blocking temperature, T_B , is 14 K, defined by zero‐field‐cooled magnetization experiments, and is the largest for any monometallic complex and equal with the current record for [Tb₂N₂{N(SiMe₃)₂}₄(THF)₂].     

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.     

Self‐Assembly of a Giant Tetrahedral 3 d–4 f Single‐Molecule Magnet within a Polyoxometalate System

A giant tetrahedral heterometallic polyoxometalate (POM) [Dy₃₀Co₈Ge₁₂W₁₀₈O₄₀₈(OH)₄₂(OH₂)₃₀]^56?, which shows single‐molecule magnet (SMM) behavior, is described. This hybrid contains the largest number of 4f ions of any polyoxometalate (POM) reported to date and is the first to incorporate two different 3d–4f and 4f coordination cluster assemblies within same POM framework.     

Construction of Giant‐Spin Hamiltonians from Many‐Spin Hamiltonians by Third‐Order Perturbation Theory and Application to an Fe3Cr Single‐Molecule Magnet

A general giant‐spin Hamiltonian (GSH) describing an effective spin multiplet of an exchange‐coupled metal cluster with dominant Heisenberg interactions was derived from a many‐spin Hamiltonian (MSH) by treating anisotropic interactions at the third order of perturbation theory. Going beyond the existing second‐order perturbation treatment allows irreducible tensor operators of rank six (or corresponding Stevens operator equivalents) in the GSH to be obtained. Such terms were found to be of crucial importance for the fitting of high‐field EPR spectra of a number of single‐molecule magnets (SMMs). Also, recent magnetization measurements on trigonal and tetragonal SMMs have found the inclusion of such high‐rank axial and transverse terms to be necessary to account for experimental data in terms of giant‐spin models. While mixing of spin multiplets by local zero‐field splitting interactions was identified as the major origin of these contributions to the GSH, a direct and efficient microscopic explanation had been lacking. The third‐order approach developed in this work is used to illustrate the mapping of an MSH onto a GSH for an trigonal Fe₃Cr complex that was recently investigated by high‐field EPR spectroscopy. Comparisons between MSH and GSH consider the simulation of EPR data with both Hamiltonians, as well as locations of diabolical points (conical intersections) in magnetic‐field space. The results question the ability of present high‐field EPR techniques to determine high‐rank zero‐field splitting terms uniquely, and lead to a revision of the experimental GSH parameters of the Fe₃Cr SMM. Indeed, a bidirectional mapping between MSH and GSH effectively constrains the number of free parameters in the GSH. This notion may in the future facilitate spectral fitting for highly symmetric SMMs.     

White Light Emissive DyIII Single‐Molecule Magnets Sensitized by Diamagnetic [CoIII(CN)6]3− Linkers

The self‐assembly of Dy^III–3‐hydroxypyridine (3‐OHpy) complexes with hexacyanidocobaltate(III) anions in water produces cyanido‐bridged {[Dy^III(3‐OHpy)₂(H₂O)₄] [Co^III(CN)₆]}?H₂O ( 1 ) chains. They reveal a single‐molecule magnet (SMM) behavior with a large zero direct current (dc) field energy barrier, ΔE=266(12) cm^?1 (≈385 K), originating from the single‐ion property of eight‐coordinated Dy^III of an elongated dodecahedral geometry, which are embedded with diamagnetic [Co^III(CN)₆]^3? ions into zig‐zag coordination chains. The SMM character is enhanced by the external dc magnetic field, which results in the ΔE of 320(23) cm^?1 (≈460 K) at H_dc=1 kOe, and the opening of a butterfly hysteresis loop below 6 K. Complex 1 exhibits white Dy^III‐based emission realized by energy transfer from Co^III and 3‐OHpy to Dy^III. Low temperature emission spectra were correlated with SMM property giving the estimation of the zero field ΔE. 1 is a unique example of bifunctional magneto‐luminescent material combining white emission and slow magnetic relaxation with a large energy barrier, both controlled by rich structural and electronic interplay between Dy^III, 3‐OHpy, and [Co^III(CN)₆]^3?.     

Heterospin Single‐Molecule Magnets Based on Terbium Ions and TCNQF4 Radicals: Interplay between Single‐Molecule Magnet and Phonon Bottleneck Phenomena Investigated by Dilution Studies

A series of isostructural compounds with formula [M(TCNQF₄)₂(H₂O)₆]TCNQF₄ ? 3 H₂O (M=Tb ( 1 ), Y ( 2 ), Y:Tb (74:26) ( 3 ), and Y:Tb (97:3) ( 4 ); TCNQF₄= tetrafluorotetracyanoquinodimethane) were prepared and their magnetic properties investigated. Compounds 1 , 3 , and 4 show the beginning of a frequency‐dependent out‐of‐phase ac signal, and decreasing intensity of the signal with decreased concentration of Tb^III ions in the diluted samples is observed. No out‐of‐phase signal was observed for 2 , an indication that the behavior of 1 , 3 , and 4 is indicative of slow paramagnetic relaxation of Tb^III ions in the samples. A more detailed micro‐SQUID study at low temperature revealed an interplay between single‐molecule magnetic (SMM) behavior and a phonon bottleneck (PB) effect, and that these properties depend on the concentration of diamagnetic yttrium ions. A combination of SMM and PB phenomena was found for 1 , whereby the PB effect increases with increasing dilution until eventually a pure PB effect is observed for 2 . The PB behavior is interpreted as being due to the presence of a “sea of organic S=1/2 radicals” from the TCNQF₄ radicals in these compounds. The present data underscore the fact that the presence of an out‐of‐phase ac signal may not, in fact, be caused by SMM behavior, particularly when magnetic metal ions are combined with organic radical ligands such as those found in the organocyanide family.     

Gadolinium Photocatalysis: Dearomative [2+2] Cycloaddition/Ring‐Expansion Sequence with Indoles

Lanthanide photocatalysts are much less investigated in synthetic chemistry than rare and expensive late transition metals. We herein introduce Gd^III photocatalysis of a highly regioselective, intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition/ring‐expansion sequence with indoles, which could provide divergent access to cyclopenta[b]indoles and indolines. A simple and commercially available Gd(OTf)₃ salt is sufficient for this visible‐violet‐light‐induced transformation. The reaction proceeds either through a transient or start‐to‐end dearomatization cascade and shows excellent regioselectivity (usually >95:5 r.r.), broad scope (59 examples), good functional group tolerance and facile scale‐up under mild, direct visible‐light‐excitation conditions. Mechanistic investigations reveal that direct excitation of the Gd(OTf)₃/indole mixture gives an excited state intermediate, which undergoes the subsequent [2+2] cycloaddition and cyclobutane‐expansion cascade.     

A Linear 3d–4f Tetranuclear CoIII2DyIII2 Single‐Molecule Magnet: Synthesis,Structure, and Magnetic Properties

A linear tetranuclear 3d–4f Co₂Dy₂ cluster assembled from a polydentate Schiff base exhibits single‐molecule magnet (SMM) behavior with an anisotropic barrier of 33.8 K. Due to the presence of diamagnetic cobalt(III) ions, the tetranuclear cluster of 1 behaves magnetically like a dinuclear Dy₂ system. However, the diamagnetic segment might efficiently minimize undesirable intermolecular magnetic interactions, thereby improving the performance of the SMM behavior of 1 . This discrete complex presents us with a unique opportunity to study the magnetic properties and to probe the dynamics of magnetization in a magnetically isolated Dy₂ system.