A novel tripodal ligand with organosulfur alligator clips for deposition of tetrairon(III) single-molecule magnets on gold

A propeller-like tetrairon(III) complex functionalized with two 1,2-dithiolan-3-yl groups was synthesized and magnetically characterized. The compound has formula [Fe₄(thioctic)₂(dpm)₆] and was specifically designed to be grafted on gold surfaces. It was prepared by reacting [Fe₄(OMe)₆(dpm)₆] (Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane) with a new tripodal ligand, H₃thioctic, obtained by esterification of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-propane-1,3-diol with (±)-α-lipoic acid (also known as thioctic acid). Direct current and alternating current magnetic measurements revealed single-molecule magnet behaviour with an effective anisotropy barrier of 14.0(1) K resulting from a high spin (S = 5) ground state and an easy-axis anisotropy.     

Magnetic and optical bistability in tetrairon(III) single molecule magnets functionalized with azobenzene groups

Tetrairon(III) complexes known as "ferric stars" have been functionalized with azobenzene groups to investigate the effect of light-induced trans-cis isomerization on single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour. According to DC magnetic data and EPR spectroscopy, clusters dispersed in polystyrene (4% w/w) exhibit the same spin (S = 5) and magnetic anisotropy as bulk samples. Ligand photoisomerization, achieved by irradiation at 365 nm, has no detectable influence on static magnetic properties. However, it induces a small but significant acceleration of magnetic relaxation as probed by AC susceptometry. The pristine behaviour can be almost quantitatively recovered by irradiation with white light. Our studies demonstrate that magnetic and optical bistability can be made to coexist in SMM materials, which are of current interest in molecular spintronics.     

Tuning anisotropy barriers in a family of tetrairon(III) single-molecule magnets with an S = 5 ground state

Tetrairon(III) Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs) with a propeller-like structure exhibit tuneable magnetic anisotropy barriers in both height and shape. The clusters [Fe4(L1)2(dpm)6] (1), [Fe4(L2)2(dpm)6] (2), [Fe4(L3)2(dpm)6].Et2O (3.Et2O), and [Fe4(OEt)3(L4)(dpm)6] (4) have been prepared by reaction of [Fe4(OMe)6(dpm)6] (5) with tripodal ligands R-C(CH2OH)3 (H3L1, R = Me; H3L2, R = CH2Br; H3L3, R = Ph; H3L4, R = tBu; Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane). The iron(III) ions exhibit a centered-triangular topology and are linked by six alkoxo bridges, which propagate antiferromagnetic interactions resulting in an S = 5 ground spin state. Single crystals of 4 reproducibly contain at least two geometric isomers. From high-frequency EPR studies, the axial zero-field splitting parameter (D) is invariably negative, as found in 5 (D = -0.21 cm(-1)) and amounts to -0.445 cm(-1) in 1, -0.432 cm(-1) in 2, -0.42 cm(-1) in 3.Et2O, and -0.27 cm(-1) in 4 (dominant isomer). The anisotropy barrier Ueff determined by AC magnetic susceptibility measurements is Ueff/kB = 17.0 K in 1, 16.6 K in 2, 15.6 K in 3.Et2O, 5.95 K in 4, and 3.5 K in 5. Both |D| and U(eff) are found to increase with increasing helical pitch of the Fe(O2Fe)3 core. The fourth-order longitudinal anisotropy parameter B4(0), which affects the shape of the anisotropy barrier, concomitantly changes from positive in 1 ("compressed parabola") to negative in 5 ("stretched parabola"). With the aid of spin Hamiltonian calculations the observed trends have been attributed to fine modulation of single-ion anisotropies induced by a change of helical pitch.     

A family of hexanuclear Mn(III) single-molecule magnets

In an attempt to employ salicylic acid (HOsalH), 2,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid {(HO)₂PhCO₂H}, and naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic acid {1,8-naph(CO₂H)₂} in Mn(III) salicylaldoximate chemistry as a means to alter the structural identity of the hexanucluear clusters usually obtained from this reaction system, we have isolated a family of hexanuclear Mn(III) complexes based on salicyladloxime (saoH₂) and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde oxime (naphthsaoH₂). Five hexanuclear clusters, [Mn₆O₂(sao)₆(HOsal)₂(EtOH)₄]·EtOH (1·EtOH), [Mn₆O₂(sao)₆{1,8-naph(CO₂Me)(CO₂)}₂(MeOH)₆]·3MeOH (2·3MeOH), [Mn₆O₂(naphthsao)₆{1,8-naph(CO₂Et)(CO₂)}₂(EtOH)₆] (3·2MeOH), [Mn₆O₂(naphthsao)₆(MeCO₂)₂(EtOH)₄]·2H₂O (4·2H₂O), and [Mn₆O₂(naphthsao)₆{(HO)₂PhCO₂}₂(EtOH)₄]·4EtOH (5·4EtOH), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The magnetic properties of 3, 4, and 5 are discussed.     

One pot grafting of tetrairon(III) single molecule magnets on silicon

Herein we report on the Si grafting of two Fe₄ derivatives, [Fe₄(Lⁱ)₂(tmhd)₆], in which tmhd is 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionate and H₃Lⁱ = R–C(CH₂OH)₃ is a tripodal ligand with R = CH₂CH–CH₂–O–CH₂ (H₃L¹) and CH₂CH–(CH₂)₉–O–CH₂ (H₃L²). These complexes were specifically designed to be directly anchored on the H-terminated silicon surface via the hydrosilylation reaction. The complexes were grafted by a one pot route based on the photoinduced hydrosilylation followed by a ligand exchange step in the same reaction solution. The resulting decorated surfaces were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).     

Hexanuclear manganese(III) single-molecule magnets from derivatized salicylamidoximes

Four novel hexanuclear manganese(III) complexes based on derivatized salicylamidoximes, [Mn^III₆(μ₃-O)₂(O₂CPh)₂(Me₂N-sao)₆(EtOH)₄] (1), [Mn^III₆(μ₃-O)₂(O₂CPh)₂(Me₂N-sao)₆(ⁱPrOH)₄] (2), [Mn^III₆(μ₃-O)₂(O₂CPh)₂(Et₂N-sao)₆(EtOH)₄] (3) and [Mn^III₆(μ₃-O)₂(O₂CPh)₂(Et₂N-sao)₆(ⁱPrOH)₄] (4) (Me₂N-Hsao = dimethylsalicylamidoxime; Et₂N-Hsao = diethylsalicylamidoxime), have been prepared and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction allows one to determine that 1·2CHCl₃ and 4 crystallize in the triclinic system with space group P(–1), whereas 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P2₁/n. dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1-4 reveal ferromagnetic coupling between Mn(III) metal ions and single-molecule magnet behaviour. The anisotropy barriers are 56, 52, 71 and 59 K for 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.     

Copper(II)-terbium(III) single-molecule magnets linked by photochromic ligands

Two assemblies composed of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) linked by photochromic ligands, [Cu(II)(2)Tb(III)(2)(L)(2)(NO(3))(2)(dae-o)(2)]·2(n-BuOH) (1) and {[Cu(II)Tb(III)(L)(n-BuOH)(0.5)](2)(dae-c)(3)}·5(DMF)·4(n-BuOH)·2(H(2)O) (2), were synthesized by reacting the SMM [Cu(II)Tb(III)(L)(NO(3))(3)] (H(2)L = 1,3-bis((3-methoxysalicylidene)amino)propane) and photochromic molecules, H(2)dae-o and H(2)dae-c, which are open- and closed-ring isomers of 1,2-bis(5-carboxyl-2-methyl-3-thienyl)perfluoropentene (H(2)dae), respectively. 1 has a tetranuclear ring-like structure comprised of two [CuTb] units and two dae-o(2-) ligands. On the other hand, 2 has a one-dimensional ladder-type structure involving the [CuTb] and dae-c(2-) units in a 3?:?2 ratio. Magnetic studies revealed that 1 and 2 had ferromagnetic interactions between the Cu(II) and Tb(III) ions and that both compounds exhibited frequency dependence of ac susceptibilities owing to freezing the magnetization of the [CuTb] SMM. Upon irradiation with ultraviolet light and visible light, an absorption band at ～600 nm changed, indicating that photochromic reactions involving the dae(2-) ligands occurred. After irradiation, the magnetic behaviour of 1 did not change, whereas magnetic behaviour of 2 changed, due to the modification of intermolecular environment.     

Multiple-decker phthalocyaninato Tb(III) single-molecule magnets and Y(III) complexes for next generation devices

A new magnetic relaxation phenomenon for an Ising dimer of a Tb-phthalocyaninato triple-decker SMM Tb₂(obPc)₃ (1) is reported. In Argand plots, the magnetic relaxation splits from a one-component system into a two-component system (temperature-independent and temperature-dependent regimes) in a dc magnetic field. There was clear evidence that the magnetic relaxation mechanisms for the Tb³⁺ dimer depended heavily on the temperature and the dc magnetic field. The relationships among the molecular structure, ligand field, ground state, and SMM properties in a direct current (dc) magnetic field are discussed. Furthermore, in order to investigate the stability of the complexes in vacuum evaporation (dry) process and the control of their surface morphology after transferring to a surface, we studied the lanthanoid-phthalocyaninato triple-decker molecule Y₂Pc₃ deposited on a Au(1 1 1) surface using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. It is important to both understand and control the quantum properties of Ln-Pc multiple-decker SMMs with an external field and the monolayer or multi-layer structures on a substrate for next generation devices, such as magnetic information storage.     

A family of enneanuclear iron(II) single-molecule magnets

Complexes [Fe₉(X)₂(O₂CMe)₈{(2‐py)₂CO₂}₄] (X^?=OH^? ( 1 ), N₃^? ( 2 ), and NCO^? ( 3 )) have been prepared by a route previously employed for the synthesis of analogous Co₉ and Ni₉ complexes, involving hydroxide substitution by pseudohalides (N₃^?, NCO^?). As indicated by DC magnetic susceptibility measurements, this substitution induced higher ferromagnetic couplings in complexes 2 and 3 , leading to higher ground spin states compared to that of 1 . Variable‐field experiments have shown that the ground state is not well isolated from excited states, as a result of which it cannot be unambiguously determined. AC susceptometry has revealed out‐of‐phase signals, which suggests that these complexes exhibit a slow relaxation of magnetization that follows Arrhenius behavior, as observed in single‐molecule magnets, with energy barriers of 41 K for 2 (τ₀=3.4×10^?12 s) and 44 K for 3 (τ₀=2.0×10^?11 s). Slow magnetic relaxation has also been observed by zero‐field ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Characteristic integer‐spin electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals have been observed at X‐band for 1 , whereas 2 and 3 were found to be EPR‐silent at this frequency. ¹H NMR spectrometry in CD₃CN has shown that complexes 1 – 3 are stable in solution.     

A novel octanuclear Mn(III) aggregate as a single-molecule magnet

The novel octanuclear cluster [Mn8O2(OH)2(OMe)12(OAc)2(Mesalim)4] (1) presents SMM behaviour with a relatively high experimental energy barrier (eff/kB= 36.0 K) as shown by its dc and ac magnetic properties.     

Chiral single-molecule magnets: a partial Mn(III) supertetrahedron from achiral components

A [Mn(III)(9)] partial supertetrahedron is a Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) with an energy barrier to magnetisation reversal of ~30 K and represents the first chiral SMM obtained from achiral starting materials.     

Synthesis,structures and magnetic properties of two novel tetranuclear iron(III) single-molecule magnets: Enhanced energy barriers in solution

[Fe^III₄(acac)₆(Br-mp)₂] (1) and [Fe^III₄(acac)₆(tmp)₂] (2) were obtained from the reaction of Fe(acac)₂ with the appropriate tripodal alcohol. Both magnetic clusters show clear signatures for ferrimagnetic super exchange coupling. A fit of the DC susceptibility of 1 with the Kambe model gives J = ?8.2 ± 0.2 cm^?1, with g = 1.96 ± 0.02. Powder AC susceptibility data display significant frequency dependence for both compounds. The observation of an out-of-phase component demonstrates that these molecules may be single-molecule magnets (SMMs). AC susceptibility data for frozen solutions of 1 and 2 in toluene also show an out-of-phase signal proving these molecules are SMMs in solution. Going from powder to solution, the χ″ signals shift to higher temperatures which points towards an increase in energy barrier for the magnetization relaxation.     

Using Ln(III)[15-MCCuII((N)(S)-pheHA(-5)]3+ complexes to construct chiral single-molecule magnets and chains of single-molecule magnets

The {DyIII[15-MC-CuII(N)(S)-pheHA(-5)]}3+ complex displays slow magnetic relaxation behavior in a frozen solution at low temperature, whereas the analogous HoIII structure does not exhibit similar behavior.     

Fast magnetization tunneling in tetranickel(II) single-molecule magnets

A series of Ni(4) cubane complexes with the composition [Ni(hmp)(ROH)Cl](4) complexes 1-4 where R= -CH(3) (complex 1), -CH(2)CH(3) (complex 2), -CH(2)CH(2)(C(4)H(9)) (complex 3), -CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)(C(6)H(11)) (complex 4), hmp(-) is the anion of 2-hydroxymethylpyridine, t-Buhmp(-) is the anion of 4-tert-butyl-2-hydroxymethylpyridine, and dmb is 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol] and [Ni(hmp)(dmb)Br](4) (complex 5) and [Ni(t-Buhmp)(dmb)Cl](4) (complex 6) were prepared. All six complexes were characterized by dc magnetic susceptibility data to be ferromagnetically coupled to give an S = 4 ground state with significant magnetoanisotropy (D approximately equal to -0.6 cm(-1)). Magnetization hysteresis measurements carried out on single crystals of complexes 1-6 establish the single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior of these complexes. The exchange bias observed in the magnetization hysteresis loops of complexes 1 and 2 is dramatically decreased to zero in complex 3, where the bulky dmb ligand is employed. Fast tunneling of magnetization is observed for the high-symmetry (S(4) site symmetry) Ni(4) complexes in the crystal of complex 3, and the tunneling rate can even be enhanced by destroying the S(4) site symmetry, as is the case for complex 4, where there are two crystallographically different Ni(4) molecules, one with C(2) and the other with C(1) site symmetry. Magnetic ordering temperatures due to intermolecular dipolar and magnetic exchange interactions were determined by means of very low-temperature ac susceptibility measurements; complex 1 orders at 1100 mK, complex 3 at 290 mK, complex 4 at approximately 80 mK, and complex 6 at <50 mK. This confirms that bulkier ligands correspond to more isolated molecules, and therefore, magnetic ordering occurs at lower temperatures for those complexes with the bulkiest ligands.     

A ligand-field study of the ground spin-state magnetic anisotropy in a family of hexanuclear Mn(III) single-molecule magnets.

A ligand field analysis of two structurally related hexanuclear Mn(iii) coordination complexes reveals that the observed difference in their ground spin-state anisotropy originates from the difference in projection coefficients of the single-ion anisotropy to spin states of different total spin quantum-number, S, rather than the geometrical distortions of the metal ions. Furthermore we show that the single-ion second order anisotropy induces fourth and higher order anisotropy terms to the ground spin states of the studied systems, as a consequence of spin-state mixing effects due to the comparable magnitude of the single-ion second order anisotropy and the isotropic exchange parameters.     

Structural design of easy-axis magnetic anisotropy and determination of anisotropic parameters of Ln(III)-Cu(II) single-molecule magnets

Four dinuclear Ln^III? Cu^II complexes with Ln=Tb ( 1 ), Dy ( 2 ), Ho ( 3 ), and Er ( 4 ) were synthesized to investigate the relationship between their respective magnetic anisotropies and ligand‐field geometries. These complexes were crystallographically isostructural, and a uni‐axial ligand field was achieved by using three phenoxo oxygen groups. Complexes 1 and 2 displayed typical single‐molecule magnet (SMM) behaviors, of which the out‐of‐phase susceptibilities were observed in the temperature range of 1.8–5.0 K ( 1 ) and 1.8–20.0 K ( 2 ). The Cole–Cole plots exhibited a semicircular shape with α parameters in the range of 0.08–0.18 (2.6–4.0 K) and 0.07–0.24 (3.5–7.0 K). The energy barriers Δ/k_B were estimated from the Arrhenius plots to be 32.9(4) K for 1 and 26.0(5) K for 2 . Complex 3 displayed a slow magnetic relaxation below 3.0 K, whereas complex 4 did not show any frequency‐dependent behavior for both in‐phase and out‐of‐phase susceptibilities, which indicates that easy‐axis anisotropy was absent. The temperature dependence of the dc susceptibilities for the field‐aligned samples of 1 – 3 revealed that the χ_MT value continuously increased as the temperature was lowered, which indicates the presence of low‐lying Stark sublevels with the highest |J_z| values. In contrast, complex 4 displayed a smaller and temperature‐independent χ_MT value, which also indicates that easy‐axis anisotropy was absent. Simultaneous analyses were carried out for 1 – 3 to determine the magnetic anisotropy parameters on the basis of the Hamiltonian that considers B₂⁰, B₄⁰, and B₆⁰.     

Heterospin single-molecule magnets with extra-large anisotropic barrier

The mixtures of Co(X-hfpip)₂; X = I and H, and bisdiazo-dipyridine ligands, D2py₂(TBA), in 1:1 ratios gave the discrete cobalt complexes, 1 and 2, respectively. The molecular structures for 1 and 2 revealed by X-ray crystallography were cyclic 2:2 cobalt complexes formulated as [(Co(X-hfpip)₂)₂(D2py₂(TBA))₂], in which the cobalt units were compressed octahedra. After irradiation of the microcrystalline samples, the resulting Co-carbene complexes, 1c and 2c, showed SMM behaviors exhibiting slow magnetic relaxations. In dc and ac magnetic susceptibility experiments, the activation barrier, U_eff, for reorientation of the magnetic moment were estimated to be 139 and 135 K for 1c and 2c, respectively, and the hysteresis loops of the magnetization (the coercive force, H_c, and 26 and 15 kOe at 1.9 K for 1c and 2c, respectively) were observed. In addition, the values of the quantum tunneling time, τ_Q, were determined to be 1.1 × 10⁵ and 5.4 × 10⁵ s (t_1/2 = 21 and 104 h) for 1c and 2c, respectively, below 2.5 K.