X-ray magnetic circular dichroism of size-selected, thiolated gold clusters

We report herein the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at the Au L2,3 edges of a series of Au clusters protected by glutathione (GSH). The samples used here included AuN(SG)M with (N, M) = (10, 10), (15, 13), (18, 14), (22, 16), (25, 18), (29, 20), (39, 24) and a sodium gold(I) thiomalate (SGT) as a reference. Magnetic moments per cluster were found to be increased with size, whereas those per Au-S bond were nearly constant. This finding suggests that a localized hole created by Au-S bonding at the gold/glutathione interface, rather than the quantum size effect, is responsible for the spin polarization of gold clusters.     

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa nickel(II) azurin

We show that X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) can be employed to probe the oxidation states and other electronic structural features of nickel active sites in proteins. As a calibration standard, we have measured XMCD and X-ray absorption (XAS) spectra for the nickel(II) derivative of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin (NiAz). Our analysis of these spectra confirms that the electronic ground state of NiAz is high-spin (S = 1); we also find that the L(3)-centroid energy is 853.1(1) eV, the branching ratio is 0.722(4), and the magnetic moment is 1.9(4) mu(B). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on model NiAz structures establish that orbitals 3d(x2-y2) and 3d(z2) are the two valence holes in the high-spin Ni(II) ground state, and in accord with the experimentally determined orbital magnetic moment, the DFT results also demonstrate that both holes are highly delocalized, with 3d(x2-y2) having much greater ligand character.     

Approaching the uniaxiality of magnetic anisotropy in single-molecule magnets

Single-molecule magnets(SMMs), which can exhibit slow magnetization relaxation and bulk-magnet-like hysteresis of purely molecular origin, are promising candidates for high-density information storage, molecular spintronics, and quantum computing.To realize their applications, it is crucial to improve the blocking temperature(T_B) and the effective relaxation barrier(U_eff).Three decades of multidisciplinary research have yielded distinct SMMs with a state-of-the-art U_ef...     

Studies of magnetic properties and HFEPR of octanuclear manganese single-molecule magnets

A new octanuclear manganese cluster [Mn(8)(Hpmide)(4)O(4)(EtCOO)(6)](ClO(4))(2) (1) is achieved by employing Hpmide as the ligand, and this paper examines the synthesis, X-ray structure, high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR), magnetization hysteresis loops and magnetic susceptibilities. Complex 1 was prepared by two different methods, and hence, was crystallized in two space groups: P3(2)21 for 1a and P3(1)21 for 1b. Each molecule possesses four Mn(II) and four Mn(III) ions. The metal-oxo framework of complex 1 consists of three face-sharing cubes with manganese ions on alternate corners. The four Mn(III) cations have their Jahn-Teller elongation axes roughly parallel to the c axis of the crystal lattice. The dc magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal a spin-frustration effect in this compound. The ac magnetic susceptibilities, as well as the magnetization hysteresis measurements, clearly establish that complex 1a is a single-molecule-magnet (SMM) with a kinetic energy barrier (10.4 cm(-1)) for spin reversal. HFEPR further confirms that complex 1a is a new SMM with a magnetoanisotropy and quantized energy levels. However, interpretation of the complete set of measurements in terms of a well defined spin ground state is not possible due to the spin frustration.     

Investigation of the photoinduced magnetization of copper octacyanomolybdates nanoparticles by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism

Through an extensive set of SQUID magnetic measurements, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, we have determined the nature of the metastable photomagnetic phase in the cyano-bridged 3D network Cs(2)Cu(7)[Mo(CN)(8)](4). The photomagnetic effect is induced by the photoconversion of Mo(IV) ions in low spin (LS) configuration (S = 0) into Mo(IV) ions in high spin (HS) configuration (S = 1). The magnetic and spectroscopic measurements fully support the LS to HS conversion, whereas the previously invoked charge transfer mechanism Mo(IV) + Cu(II) ? Mo(V) + Cu(I) can be completely ruled out.     

Theoretical insight into the magnetic circular dichroism of uranium N6,7-edge X-ray absorption

We use ligand-field density functional theory to determine the electronic structure and to model magnetic circular dichroism in the X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of uranium compounds. This study extends earlier work on tetravalent uranium ion, in which a model Hamiltonian was set up in order to study electronic structure with three nonequivalent 4f, 5f, and 6d electrons. In the earlier work, the model Hamiltonian took into consideration the interelectron repulsion, spin-orbit coupling interaction, and ligand-field splitting. Uranium N_6,7-edge XAS spectra were calculated on the basis of the 5f² → 4f¹³5f²6d¹ electron transition, showing spectral profiles that were mainly dominated by 4f electron spin-orbit coupling, as well as 6d ligand-field splitting. Fine structures were also observed due to the interelectronic repulsion between 4f-5f, 4f-6d, and 5f-6d electrons. Here, the theoretical study is extended to take into consideration the presence of an external magnetic field, incorporating into the model Hamiltonian for three-open-shell electron configuration a term for Zeeman interaction. Therefore, we are able to model spectra with a left-circularly and right-circularly polarized X-ray, demonstrating evidence of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) for a tetravalent U⁴⁺ ion in the molecular (U(η⁸-C₈H₈)₂) complex. The XMCD originates from a ground-state electronic structure with open-shell 5f electrons. Furthermore, the present calculation of uranium N_6,7-edge XAS and XMCD spectra also enables the ligand-field bonding analysis of the coordination compound.     

First-principles calculations of magnetic circular dichroism spectra

An elaborate approach for the prediction of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra in the framework of highly correlated multiconfigurational ab initio methods is presented. The MCD transitions are computed by the explicit treatment of spin-orbit coupled (SOC) and spin-spin coupled (SSC) N-electron states. These states are obtained from the diagonalization of the SOC and SSC operators along with the spin and orbital Zeeman operators in the basis of a preselected number of roots of the spin-free Hamiltonian. Therefore, zero-field splittings due to the SOC and SSC interactions along with the magnetic field splittings are explicitly accounted for in the ground as well as the excited states. This makes it possible to calculate simultaneously all MCD A, B, and C terms even beyond the linear response limit. The SOC is computed using a multicenter mean-field approximation to the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian. Two-electron SSC terms are included in the treatment without further approximations. The MCD transition intensities are subjected to numerical orientational averaging in order to treat the most commonly encountered case of randomly oriented molecules. The simulated MCD spectra for the OH, NH, and CH radicals as well as for [Fe(CN)(6)](3-) are in good agreement with the experimental spectra. In the former case, the significant effects of the inert gas matrices in which the experimental spectra were obtained were modeled in a phenomenological way.     

A theory of magnetic vibrational circular dichroism

A theory of type B magnetic vibrational circular dichroism (MVCD) is developed and applied. The motion of the nuclei is treated classically and the momentum correlation between their motion and the electronic motion is treated explicitly.     

The magnetic circular dichroism spectrum of acetylene

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum of gas phase acetylene has been studied in the spectral region 320-140 nm. No MCD signal was detected in the region of the first transition. The observation of irregular MCD bands beginning at 185 nm confirm assignment of this latter band as the 0-0 band of the second transition. The discrete and relatively narrow bands in the region 155-140 nm exhibit pure A-term character, lending unambiguous confirmation to the assignment of ¹Π_u for the state. The observed absorption spectrum in this region is interpreted as consisting of two non-interacting systems, one involving the ¹Π_u Rydberg state and the other, a broad continuous background, cannot be assigned. It is however suggested that it may be due to the ¹Σ_u⁺ state of the π → π^* excited configuration.     

Absorption and magnetic circular dichroism studies on thiepins

2,7-di-tert-butyl and 2,7-di-tert-butyl-4-ethoxy-carbonylthiepins exhibit a similar spectroscopic profile in their absorption and the magnetic circular dichroism spectra. A quantum-mechanical calculation based on the INDO method gave a theoretical interpretation of the spectra, which were all ascribed to the π→π^* electronic transitions characteristic of the thiepin skeleton.     

The magnetic circular dichroism of five-membered ring heterocycles

The MCD spectra of pyrrole, furan, thiophene, selenophene and teburophene and some of their derivatives are reported and the corresponding energies, oscillator strengths, transition moment directions, and MCD terms are calculated from semi-empirical quantum mechanical calculations hi the π-electron approximation. The MCD spectrum of thiophene is only slightly perturbed by substituents, and this is also expected to be true of the quite similar MCD spectra of selenophene and tellurophene. These molecules can then be classified as “hard” chromophores. On the other hand, pyrrole and furan have different and much weaker MCD spectra which change shape considerably when substituents are introduced. The implications of these observations are further discussed.     

The magnetic circular dichroism spectrum of matrix-isolated TaO

TaO has been matrix-isolated in an argon matrix at 14 K and 24 K and studied spectroscopically in the visible region (300–850 nm). Both adsorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra have been recorded and analyzed. A determination of the total angular momentum quantum numbers (ω) for fourteen excited electronic states has been made. The g factors for the ground ²Δ_{$\text{3}\text{2}$} and excited ²φ_{$\text{5}\text{2}$} states have been determined from a moment analysis of the MCD and absorption spectra of the 450.3 nm band. The present study indicates the power of the combination of magnetic circular dichroism and matrix isolation for the assignment of excited electronic states of high temperature molecules.     

The magnetic circular dichroism spectrum of matrix-isolated oxygen

The magnetic circular dichroism spectrum of atmospheric oxygen condensed on a cold window has been measured in the region from 240–270 nm. Analysis of the spectrum shows that the transition observed is ³Σ_g^? → ³Δ_u. The corresponding absorption has previously been observed only in the gas phase using very long path lengths or high pressures.     

The magnetic circular dichroism spectrum of matrix-isolated iodine

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of iodine and iodine/benzene mixtures in nitrogen and argon matrices have been measured. The matrices containing iodine alone are of two types and the nature of the iodine in these matrices is discussed. The MCD evidence suggests that the matrix-isolated benzene-iodine charge-transfer complex is not axial.     

Electronic structure, spectra, and magnetic circular dichroism of cyclohexa-, cyclohepta-, and cyclooctapyrrole

Three recently obtained expanded porphyrins represent nice examples of compounds for which the electronic and spectral properties can be predicted from symmetry considerations alone. Perimeter-model-based theoretical analysis of the electronic structure of doubly protonated cyclo[6], cyclo[7], and cyclo[8]pyrrole leads to the anticipation of qualitatively the same electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism patterns for all three compounds. These predictions are fully confirmed by experiments, as well as DFT and INDO/S calculations. Due to a characteristic pattern of frontier molecular orbitals, a degenerate HOMO and a strongly split LUMO pair, the three cyclopyrroles show comparable absorption intensity in the Q and Soret regions. Magnetic circular dichroism spectra reveal both A and B Faraday terms, of which the signs and magnitudes are in remarkably good agreement with theoretical expectations. The values of the magnetic moments of the two lowest degenerate excited states have also been obtained.     

Spectral hole-burning and magnetic circular dichroism of matrix-isolated copper phthalocyanine

Persistent spectral hole-burning in the Q-band region is reported for a concentrated (≈ 2 × 10⁻² mol l⁻¹) matrix of copper phthalocyanine in solid Ar at 1.6 K. Hole-burning occurs with a quantum efficiency of ≈ 10⁻⁶ and can be reversed by annealing at ≈ 28 K. Vibrational side holes allow determination of excited-state frequencies. A hole-burning mechanism involving triplet-state charge separation followed by rapid electron back-transfer is proposed. Temperature dependence of the MCD and the difference between MCD spectra taken before and after irradiation indicate that the excited state is split by crystal-field and spin-orbit interactions.     

Applications of magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy to porphyrins and phthalocyanines

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy has widely been applied to porphyrins and phthalocyanines since around 1970, in order to elucidate their electronic structures. In this mini-review, some representative MCD results from the author's laboratory over the past 30 years are introduced, together with recent results from other laboratories. MCD studies on the following monomeric species are included: D(4h) type, adjacent vs. opposite type diaromatic ring-fused, non-planar, and reduced and oxidized species, as well as species showing temperature-dependent MCD signals. In addition, one example illustrates the use of MCD as a probe for the distal histidine residue in myoglobin. Recent results on dimers and oligomers are also reported. In particular, it is confirmed that the spectra of cofacial eclipsed dimers do not reflect the molecular symmetry of the constituent monomers. The spectra of rare-earth sandwich dimers and trimers are definitively assigned. Using spectra of planar oligomers of porphyrins, it is reiterated that it is often dangerous to assign the absorption bands of chromophores based only on the results of molecular orbital calculations. Some examples show that MCD can give information on the relative size of the DeltaHOMO (energy difference between the HOMO and HOMO-1) and DeltaLUMO (energy difference between the LUMO and LUMO+1); for example, if DeltaHOMO > DeltaLUMO, the MCD signal changes from minus to plus in ascending energy.     

The A and B terms of magnetic circular dichroism revisited

The temperature-independent part of the magnetic circular dichroism spectrum is conventionally divided into the Faraday A and B terms, where the A term is nonzero only for systems with degenerate states. We propose that this separation is abandoned in favor of a unified temperature-independent term. This proposal is based on complex polarization propagator calculations on three structurally similar porphyrins. These calculations also suggest that the Soret band of Zn-porphyrin is determined by an isolated degenerate 2E u state.     

Complex polarization propagator calculations of magnetic circular dichroism spectra

It is demonstrated that the employment of the nonlinear complex polarization propagator enables the calculation of the complete magnetic circular dichroism spectra of closed-shell molecules, including at the same time both the so-called Faraday A and B terms. In this approach, the differential absorption of right and left circularly polarized light in the presence of a static magnetic field is determined from the real part of the magnetic field-perturbed electric dipole polarizability. The introduction of the finite lifetimes of the electronically excited states into the theory results in response functions that are well behaved in the entire spectral region, i.e., the divergencies that are found in conventional response theory approaches at the transition energies of the system are not present. The applicability of the approach is demonstrated by calculations of the ultraviolet magnetic circular dichroism spectra of para-benzoquinone, tetrachloro-para-benzoquinone, and cyclopropane. The present results are obtained with the complex polarization propagator approach in conjunction with Kohn-Sham density functional theory and the standard adiabatic density functionals B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, and BHLYP.     

Spin density distribution in five- and six-coordinate iron(II)-porphyrin NO complexes evidenced by magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy

Using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy together with DFT calculations, the spin density distributions in five-coordinate [Fe(TPP)(NO)] (I) and six-coordinate [Fe(TPP)(MI)(NO)] (II, MI = 1-methylimidazole) are defined. In the five-coordinate complex, a strong Fe-NO sigma bond between pi(*)(h) and d(z)(2) is present that leads to a large transfer of spin density from the NO ligand to Fe(II) corresponding to an electronic structure with noticeable Fe(I)-NO(+) character. Consequently, the MCD spectrum is dominated by paramagnetic C-term contributions. On coordination of the sixth ligand, the spin density is pushed back from the iron toward the NO ligand, resulting in an Fe(II)-NO(radical) type of electronic structure. This is reflected by the fact that the MCD spectrum is dominated by diamagnetic contributions.