Stable iminonitroxide biradicals: Building blocks for organic heterospin,heteromolecular complexes

A stable cationic biradical has been designed and synthesized, and its magnetic property and crystal structure have been examined. An iminonitroxide derivative of 3,5-disubstituted pyridine (1) with a triplet ground state has been cationized by a reaction with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (MeTfO), which gave a salt of N-methylated pyridinium 2⁺, 2⁺ · TfO⁻. The ground state of the cation 2⁺ has been found to be triplet with 2J/k_B = 7.5 K from magnetic susceptibility measurements for 2⁺ · TfO⁻ in a magnetically diluted organic matrix. The magnetic susceptibility of neat crystalline solids of 2⁺ · TfO⁻ has been explained by an exchange coupling model based on the X-ray crystal structure. It is well known that the energy preference for a high-spin ground state for a m-phenylene coupling unit is disturbed by heteroatomic substitution and an ionic charge. The present experimental results show that the high-spin preference in 1 is little affected by the ionic charge in 2⁺. The ground-state triplet biradical serves as building blocks for molecule-based magnets of S > 1/2 of molecular assemblages based on electrostatic interactions between molecular ions.     

Magnetic interactions in p-phenylene-bis(nitronyl nitroxide) biradicals with large torsion angles

We have designed and synthesized new biradicals of p-phenylene-bis(nitronyl nitroxide) substituted with two methoxy groups at 2,3- (2) and 2,5-positions (3). A parent biradical p-phenylene-bis(nitronyl nitroxide) (1) has intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of 2J/k_B = −104 K ∼ −106 K with a torsion angle of 28.5° between the phenyl and the imidazole rings of nitronyl nitroxide. X-ray crystal structure analysis shows that the bulky substituents in 2 and 3 give large torsion angles of 65–70°. The larger torsion angles should weaken the magnitude of intramolecular exchange interactions, which is attributed to a decrease in π-conjugation over the p-phenylene and the radical groups. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that the intramolecular exchange interactions in 2 and 3 are severely weakened to about 6% of that in 1, 2J/k_B = −6 K ∼ −8 K. The relation between the torsion angle and the intramolecular exchange interaction is consistent with DFT calculations. The ground-state singlet biradicals with suppressed intramolecular exchange interactions can be a building block for exotic exchange-coupled spin systems as predicted in our theoretical studies.     

Magnetic property of 1:2 mixture of Co(p-tolsal)2; p-tolsal = N-p-tolylsalicylideniminato,and cyclic pentacarbene–pyridine with S = 10/2 in dilute frozen solution

A cyclic pentadiazo-pyridine ligand, cD5py, was prepared and its photoproduct, cC5py, in a frozen solution was confirmed to be a high-spin polycarbene with S = 10/2. The magnetic property of the 1:2 mixture of Co(p-tolsal)₂; p-tolsal = N-p-tolylsalicylideniminato, and cD5py in a dilute frozen solution after irradiation was investigated by SQUID magneto/susceptometry. In the ac magnetic susceptibility measurements, the in-phase and out-of-phase components (χ′ and χ″, respectively) with frequency dependence were observed, indicating that the 1:2 complex, Co(p-tolsal)₂-(cC5py)₂, had slow magnetic relaxation characteristic of the single-molecule magnet (SMM). From the χ″ versus T plots with various frequencies, the values of activation barrier, U_eff, for the reverse of the magnetism was estimated to be 72 K. In the dc magnetic susceptibility measurements, the magnetic hysteresis loops were observed below 3 K. The value of the coercive force, H_c, depends on the temperature and increases on cooling. The hysteresis loop with H_c = 7.1 kOe was observed at 1.9 K.     

Synthesis,structure and magnetic properties of an iron(II) complex with nitronyl nitroxides

An iron(II) complex with nitronyl nitroxides, [Fe^II(dppNN)₂](BF₄)₂ · CH₃COCH₃ (1) (dppNN = 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxido-3-ylooxy-4,5-dihydro-3H-imidazol-2′-yl)pyridine) was synthesized. In 1 the central iron(II) ion was coordinated by two tridentate ligands with nitronyl nitroxides. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that χ_mT values below 130 K was almost temperature independent, while upon increasing temperature χ_mT values showed gradual increase, suggesting an occurrence of a spin transition from low to high spin state. Green light irradiation on powder sample at 5 K resulted in spin conversion (LIESST).     

Molecular spin ladders self-assembly from [Ni(dmit)2]− building blocks: Syntheses,structures and magnetic properties

Two ion-pair compounds, consisting of 1-(4′-R-benzyl)pyridinium ([RBzPy]⁺, R = NO₂ (1) and Br (2)) and [Ni(dmit)₂]⁻ (dmit²⁻ = 2-thioxo-1,3-dithion-4,5-dithiolato), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The anions of [Ni(dmit)₂]⁻ stack into dimers, which further construct into two-leg ladder through terminal S⋯S interactions in 1, lateral S⋯S interactions in 2. The weak H-bonding interactions of C–H⋯S were observed in 2, while only weak van de Waals interactions between anion and cations in 1. The magnetic susceptibilities measured in 2–300 K indicate AFM exchange interaction domination both two compounds. A peculiar magnetic transition at ∼100 K was observed in 1. An AFM ordering below ∼11 K was found in 2, and the best fit to magnetic susceptibility above 45 K in this compound, using a dimer model with s = 1/2, give rise to Δ/k_B = 36.1 K, zJ = −0.91 K, C = 3.2 × 10⁻³ emu K mol⁻¹ and χ₀ = −4.0 × 10⁻⁶ emu mol⁻¹ with g of 2.0 fixed.     

Thymine-substituted nitronyl nitroxide biradical as a triplet (S = 1) component for bio-inspired molecule-based magnets

As a novel crystal engineering approach to organic molecule-based magnets, we have proposed a strategy of bio-inspired molecular assemblage based on intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Complementary hydrogen bonding between nucleobases as found in DNA is a promising non-covalent interaction for controlling the molecular arrangement of open-shell building block molecules. The hydrogen bonding of complementary nucleobases substituted with radical entities of different spin quantum numbers S, e.g., S = 1 and S = 1/2, gives rise to a heteromolecular aggregation of the S = 1 and S = 1/2 entities, leading to organic ferrimagnetics. In this study, we have designed and synthesized a thymine-substituted nitronyl nitroxide biradical (1) as a triplet (S = 1) component for the bio-inspired ferrimagnetic system. The molecular ground state of 1 has been found to be triplet (S = 1) with a singlet–triplet energy gap of 2J/k_B = 21.4 K from magnetic susceptibility measurements. It has been found from X-ray structure analyses that the molecules form hydrogen-bonded aggregates in the crystalline solid state, in which the thymine moiety plays a primary role in the molecular packing. The ground-state triplet biradical serves as an S = 1 building block for bio-inspired molecule-based magnets with hydrogen-bonded nucleobase pairings.     

Design,synthesis and physical properties of the metal complexes using π-radical with photo-excited high-spin state as a ligand

Two π-radicals, 3-pyridinyl-phenylanthracene(iminonitroxide) (3) and 3-pyridinyl-phenylanthracene-(nitronylnitroxide) (4) were designed as candidates of the ligand for the metal complexes to clarify the exchange interactions between the paramagnetic centers of the metal ions and the photo-excited high-spin states of the purely organic π-radical. Compounds 3 and 4 were synthesized and their magnetic properties were examined, showing weak antiferromagnetic interactions, θ = −1.5 K for 3 and −0.7 K for 4. The photo-excited states of 3 and 4 were investigated by time-resolved ESR and clarified that both π-radicals have the quartet (S = 3/2) high-spin states as their lowest photo-excited states. Two metal complexes [Fe(III)(L)(4)] · (BPh₄) (Low spin) (LH₂ = N,N′-bis(1-hydroxy-2-benzyliden)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane) and [Cu(II)(hfac)₂(4)₂] using 4 were prepared. Their magnetic behaviors are well analyzed with the Bleaney–Bowers model with J/k_B = − 0.86 K and three S = 1/2 spin cluster model with J/k_B = −1.0 K, respectively, showing weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the paramagnetic centers of the metal ions and the π-radical in the ground state.     

Effect of counter cationic geometry on stacking structures and magnetic properties of [Ni(mnt)2]− complexes

The crystal structures and magnetic properties of two new ion-pair complexes, [N-NH₂Py][Ni(mnt)₂] (1) and [N-NH₂Ql][Ni(mnt)₂] (2) (N-NH₂Py⁺ = 1-aminopyridinium, N-NH₂Ql⁺ = 1-aminoquinolinium; mnt^2? = maleonitriledithiolate) have been investigated. The differences of the molecular topology and size of the counter cation result in distinct anionic and cationic stacking patterns in the crystals, namely, in the crystal of 1 the anions (A) and cations (C) alternate to stack into a mixed column in the fashion of …AACCAACC…, and the neighboring columns are connected together via intermolecular H-bonding interactions as well as van der Waals forces; while, in the crystal of 2, the anions and cations alternate to form a mixed columnar stack in the manner of …ACAC…, and the adjacent columns are held together via weak van der Waals forces. Investigations of variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility indicated that 1 is a spin gap system but its magnetic behavior does not follow the Bleaney–Bowers spin dimer model; 2 shows a magnetic feature of linear decrease of χ_mT value upon cooling, and this kind of magnetic behavior is probably related to the presence of temperature independent paramagnetism.     

Low-dimensional quantum magnetic systems: Synthesis,structure and magnetic behavior of (2,5-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride and synthesis and magnetic behavior of bis(2,6-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride

The synthesis, X-ray structure and magnetic susceptibility of (2,5-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride (1), and the synthesis and magnetic susceptibility of (2,6-dimethylpyrazine)₂copper(II) chloride (2), are reported. Compound 1 crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c as a coordination polymer of Cu(II) ions bridged by 2,5-methylpyrazine. The resulting chains are magnetically linked via short chloride–chloride contacts. The magnetic susceptibility responds as a uniform Heisenberg chain (2J/k = −20(5) K) with a phase transition to three dimensional order near 5 K. Susceptibility data for compound 2 show that the compound is a linear chain coordination polymer with the copper ions linked by bihalide bridges. A fit to the model for a uniform Heisenberg chain yields 2J = −22.7(2) K.     

Benzyl-phenyl ether derivatives of nitronyl nitroxide triradicals as a model for single-component organic molecule-based ferrimagnetics

As a novel molecular design for genuinely organic molecule-based ferrimagnets, we have proposed a strategy of “single-component organic molecule-based ferrimagnetics”. In this study, we have designed and synthesized a triradical p-trisNN (1) as a building block for single-component ferrimagnetics, in which a m-phenylene-based π-biradical and a π-monoradical are connected in a benzyl-phenyl ether framework. The triradical retains the magnetic degrees of freedom for both S = 1 and S = 1/2 spins in the single molecule. X-ray crystallographic analyses show that 1 has a head-to-tail packing with an approximately isosceles triangular geometry, which is favorable for a ferrimagnetic spin alignment. From the analysis of crystal and magnetic susceptibility measurements, the triradical is found to form exchange-coupled systems composed of six S = 1/2 spins in the repeating unit of the crystalline solid state.     

Quantitative analysis of the magnetism of the meta-(methoxy)phenyl nitronyl nitroxide crystal: A bottom–up analysis of a crystal presenting competing ferro and antiferromagnetic interactions

Crystals of the meta isomer of the (methoxy)phenyl nitronyl nitroxide radical, m-(OMe)PhNN, present the characteristics of an antiferromagnet (paramagnetic θ = −0.97 K, |J| = 1.6 cm⁻¹, [L. Angeloni, A. Caneschi, L. David, A. Fabretti, F. Ferraro, D. Gatteschi, A. le Lirzin, R. Sessoli, J. Mater. Chem. 4 (1994) 1047]). Using our quantitative bottom–up approach, we analyze here the magnetism of this crystal by first computing its magnetic topology and, then, using this information, the macroscopic magnetic susceptibility χ(T) of the crystal. The crystal presents one ferro and two antiferromagnetic exchange interactions, J_AB, of similar strength (+0.20, −0.20 and −0.11 cm⁻¹) that create a complex three-dimensional magnetic topology of interacting planes. This complex network of competing ferro and antiferromagnetic pathways does not allow a sounding prediction of the macroscopic magnetic susceptibility using qualitative considerations. Our approach computes the χT versus T curve that fully reproduces the experimental shape.     

Magnetic properties of hybrid organo-inorganic copper(II) oxovanadate(V) phosphate and phosphonate bridged systems

The hybrid organo-inorganic compounds [Cu₄(bipy)₄V₄O₁₁(PO₄)₂]nH₂O (n ∼ 5) (1), [Cu₂(phen)₂(PO₄)(H₂PO₄)₂(VO₂) · 2H₂O] (2) and [Cu₂(phen)₂(O₃PCH₂PO₃)(V₂O₅) (H₂O)]H₂O (3) which present different bridging forms of the phosphate/phosphonate group, show different bulk magnetic properties. We herein analyze the magnetic behaviour of these compounds in terms of their structural parameters. We also report a theoretical study for compound (1) assuming four different magnetic exchange pathways between the copper centres present in the tetranuclear unit. For compound (1) the following J values were obtained J₁ = +3.29; J₂ = −0.63; J₃ = −2.23; J₄ = −46.14 cm⁻¹. Compound (2) presents a Curie–Weiss behaviour in the whole range of temperature (3–300 K), and compound (3) shows a maximum for the magnetic susceptibility at 64 K, typical for antiferromagnetic interactions. These data where fitted using a model previously reported in the literature, assuming two different magnetic exchange pathways between the four copper(II) centres, with J₁ = −30.0 and J₂ = −8.5 cm⁻¹.     

Quantum dynamic simulations for single molecular magnets using anisotropic spin models

We performed quantum spin dynamics in anisotropic electron-spin systems to clarify the mechanism in single molecular magnets (SMM) theoretically. Usually, SMMs have large negative anisotropic D value and the large total spin angular moment (S_total). The splitting ground spin states in one SMM molecule are usually caused by the anisotropic terms (D and E), which become more important as well as isotropic term (J). In order to examine the effects of such anisotropic magnetic terms, model systems with large spin multiplicity of the ground state (S_total = 5 and 2) were treated. First, energy diagram in external magnetic field is shown, since negative D terms are responsible to the zero-field magnetic moment. Next, the quantum Liouvile approach is used for our spin dynamics simulation involving the relaxation processes of the system. Our simulations in S_total = 5 system successfully reproduced magnetic quantum tunneling (MQT) behavior in DC-external magnetic field. Moreover, in S_total = 2 system under AC-external magnetic field, frequency dependence of real (χ′) and imaginary (χ″) parts of χ can be shown with Fourier transformation. Our theoretically drawn half circles in Cole-Cole plot (χ′ versus χ″) will give information to many experimental studies.     

2D H-bonding molecular magnets based on [Ni(mnt)2]− monoanion: Syntheses,crystal structures and magnetic properties

Two new H-bonding molecular magnets based on [Ni(mnt)₂]⁻ monoanion have been synthesized and characterized structurally. In crystal of 1, [Ni(mnt)₂]⁻ monoanions form the π-stacked sheets and the neighboring anionic sheets are held together via H-bonding interactions between –NH groups of diprotonated benzene-1,4-diamine and CN groups of mnt²⁻ ligands. In crystal of 2, the neighboring anionic dimers form an anionic column via Ni…S contacting interactions, and these anionic stacks arrange into a sheet which is parallel to crystallographic ab-plane. The H-bonding interactions between diprotonated 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane cations and [Ni(mnt)₂]⁻ monoanions as well as between cations and solvent MeCN molecules stabilize the lattice. Magnetic susceptibility measurement for 1 indicates an activated magnetic behavior in the high-temperature range together with a Curie tail at the lower temperature range, but the magnetic feature deviates from the magnetic exchange model for a spin dimer with S = 1/2. The magnetic nature of 2 reveals the presence of strongly antiferromagnetic interactions between the nearest-neighboring spins, the larger energy gap between spin ground and excited states results in a weakly paramagnetic property.     

Mechanism of reversible spin transition with a thermal hysteresis loop in [FeIII(qsal)2][Ni(dmise)2] · 2CH3CN: Selenium analogue of the precursor of an Fe(III) spin-crossover molecular conducting system

A novel Fe(III) spin-crossover complex, [Fe(qsal)₂][Ni(dmise)₂] · 2CH₃CN 1 [qsalH = N-(8-quinolyl)-salicylaldimine, dmise = 4,5-dithiolato-1,3-dithiole-2-selone] was prepared. The magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed 1 exhibited a cooperative spin transition with a thermal hysteresis loop of 15 K. The high and the low temperature structures of 1 indicated three-dimensional intermolecular π?π interactions play a key role in the cooperative spin transition, accompanying a reversible molecular slipping of π-dimer of Ni(dmise)₂ along the molecular long axis. The transfer integral calculation for 1 suggested the π-dimer of Ni(dmise)₂ is in the spin singlet state.     

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.     

Crystal structures and magnetic properties of complexes of M(NO3)2; M = MnII,CoII, NiII,and CuII,with pyridine ligands carrying an aminoxyl radical

Four complexes of M(NO₃)₂(4NOPy-OMe)₂, (4NOPy-OMe = 4-(N-tert-butyloxylamino)-2-(methoxymethylenyl)pyridine, and M = Mn^II, 1; Co^II, 2; Ni^II, 3; Cu^II, 4), were prepared and fully characterized. X-ray single crystal analysis reveals that four complexes are isostructural. The molecular structures are distorted octahedral in which the methoxy oxygen atoms coordinate to the metal ion by trans-configuration while the pyridyl nitrogen atoms and the nitrate oxygen atoms coordinate by cis-configuration. The magnetic properties of all complexes were investigated by SQUID magneto/susceptometry. Temperature dependence of the molar magnetic susceptibilities in the temperature range of 2–300 K indicated that the magnetic coupling between aminoxyl radicals and metal ion was antiferromagnetic in the complex 1 and were ferromagnetic in the complexes 2–4. The quantitative analysis based on the spin Hamiltonian, H = −2J(S₁S_M + S_MS₂) yielded the best fit as J/k_B = −13.4 ± 0.1 K, g = 1.94 ± 0.002, and θ = −0.78 ± 0.02 K for the complex 1, J/k_B = 48.7 ± 2.1 K, g = 2.07 ± 0.02, and θ = −2.83 ± 0.41 K for the complex 3 (the data in the temperature range 300–50 K were used), and J/k_B = 57.0 ± 1.2 K, g = 2.002 ± 0.004, and θ = −9.8 ± 0.1 K for the complex 4.     

A theoretical study of the magnetism of the α-p-cyano-tetrafluorophenyl-dithiadiazolyl radical using a first principles bottom-up procedure

The mechanism of the magnetic interaction in the α phase of the organic radical p-cyano-tetrafluorophenyl-dithiadiazolyl has been studied using a first-principles bottom-up theoretical procedure. Six J_AB radical–radical magnetic interactions are computed to be larger than ∣0.05∣ cm⁻¹ (two, with values +10.91 and −10.25 cm⁻¹, dominate over the others, whose absolute values are always smaller than 1.5 cm⁻¹). The connectivity of these non-negligible J_AB interactions creates a complex 3D magnetic topology within the crystal. The computed magnetic susceptibility curve, χ, was also calculated by diagonalizing the matrix representation of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian, whose J_AB parameters are set to their computed values. This fully reproduces the shape of the experimental curve and is consistent with the bulk antiferromagnetism reported experimentally (reflected in a sharp maximum observed in χ at 10 K). Attempts to model the magnetic susceptibility data using a simple model based only upon the two dominant interactions proved impossible.     

Spontaneous resolution of a novel chiral coordination polymer through supramolecular interactions and solvent symmetry breaking

The spontaneous resolution reaction of racemic trans-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dipyridyl-benzo[e]indole 1 with Cd(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O in the presence of 2-butanol under solvothermal reaction conditions favors the formation of crystal 2 [P-Cd(R,R,-1)₂(ClO₄)₂], while a similar reaction in the presence of ethanol only favors the formation of crystal 3 [M-Cd(S,S,-1)₂(ClO₄)₂]. The crystal structural determination shows that both 2 and 3 crystallize in chiral enantiomorphous space groups (P6₁22 and P6₅22) and their structures are 1D infinite chain, and are just enantiomorphous pairs most like. The spontaneous resolution process displays estimated ee values of ca. +0.6 for 2-butanol and ca. −0.4 for ethanol. Enantiomerically pure (S,S)-trans-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dipyridyl-benzo[e]indole (S,S,-1) can be obtained through the decomposition of mechanically separated 3. Additionally (S,S,-1) also crystallizes in a chiral space group (P2₁). The CD (circular dichroism) spectra of both 2 and 3 in the solid state are also approximately enantiomorphous pairs. However, their fluorescent spectra in the solid state display a moderate difference in maximum emission peaks (Δλ = 19 nm). Crystal data for 2: C₄₄H₃₄Cl₂N₆O₈Cd, M = 958.07, hexagonal, P6₁22, a = 10.5488(5), c = 68.256(4) Å, α = γ = 90°, β = 120°, V = 6577.8(6) Å³, Z = 6, D_c = 1.451 mg m⁻³, R₁ = 0.0498, wR₂ = 0.1124, μ = 0.679 mm⁻¹, S = 0.623, Flack χ = −0.02(6). For space group P6₅22, R₁ = 0.0670, wR₂ = 0.1602, S = 0.725 with a Flack value of 1.03(7); Crystal data for 3, C₄₄H₃₄Cl₂N₆O₈Cd, M = 958.07, hexagonal, P6₅22, a = 10.5446(3), c = 68.265(3) Å, V = 6573.3(4) Å³, Z = 6, D_c = 1.452 mg m⁻³, R₁ = 0.0444,wR₂ = 0.1002, μ = 0.679 mm⁻¹, S = 0.558, Flack χ = 0.01(5). For space group P6₁22, R₁ = 0.0501, wR₂ = 0.1178, S = 0.599 with a Flack value of 1.00(5). The low Flack parameter indicates that the absolute configurations of 2 and 3 are stated; Crystal data for (S,S)-1, C₂₂H₁₇N₂, M = 323.39, orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a = 9.2598(7), b = 9.4617(8), c = 19.1452(16) Å, V = 1677.4(2) Å³, Z = 4, D_c = 1.281 mg m⁻³, R₁ = 0.0417, wR₂ = 0.1191, T = 293 K, μ = 0.077 mm⁻¹, S = 0.862.     

Anisotropic exchange in a tetranuclear CoII complex

Very high-frequency (50–715 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of the tetranuclear Co^II complex [Co(hmp)(dmb)Cl]₄ (1), where dmb is 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol and hmp^? is the monoanion of 2-hydroxy-methylpyridine, reveal the presence of significant zero-field-splitting (ZFS) within the ground state spin multiplet. Meanwhile, low-temperature hysteresis measurements of 1 (and related Co^II₄ complexes) provide evidence for slow magnetization relaxation, suggesting that it could be a single-molecule magnet (SMM). However, EPR studies of a Zn analog of 1, doped with a small quantity of Co^II, show the ground state of the Co^II ions to be an effective spin S′ = 1/2 Kramers doublet with a highly anisotropic g-tensor. The question then arises as to the origin of the ZFS within the ground state spin multiplet of 1, as well as the slow magnetization relaxation. Here, we consider the effect of anisotropic exchange interactions between the effective spin S′ = 1/2 Kramers ions within the tetranuclear complex. Such exchange anisotropy arises naturally when one treats the ground state of high-spin Co^II as a Kramers doublet. Our model provides an explanation for the ZFS in the ground state observed via EPR, and can also account for qualitative features observed through magnetic measurements.