Two tri-spin complexes based on gadolinium and nitronyl nitroxide radicals: Structure and ferromagnetic interactions

Three Radical-Ln(III)-Radical complexes based on nitronyl nitroxide radicals have been synthesized, structurally and magnetically characterized: [Gd(hfac)₃(NITPhOEt)₂] (1) (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate, and NITPhOEt=4′-ethoxy-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide), [Gd(hfac)₃(NITPhOCH₂Ph)₂] (2) (NITPhOCH₂Ph=4′-benzyloxy-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide) and [Lu(hfac)₃(NITPhOCH₂Ph)₂] (3). The X-ray crystal structure analyses show that the structures of the three compounds are similar and all consist of the isolated molecules, in which central ions Gd^III or Lu^III are coordinated by six oxygen atoms from three hfac and two oxygen atoms from nitronyl radicals. The magnetic studies show that in both of the two Gd^III complexes, there are ferromagnetic Gd^III-Rad interactions and antiferro-magnetic Rad-Rad interactions in the molecules (with J_Rad−Gd=0.27 cm⁻¹, j_Rad-Rad=−2.97 cm⁻¹ for 1: and J_Rad−Gd=0.62 cm⁻¹, j_Rad-Rad=−7.01 cm⁻¹ for 2). An analogous complex of [Lu(hfac)₃ (NITPhOCH₂Ph)₂] (3) containing diamagnetic Lu^III ions has also been introduced for further demonstrating the nature of magnetic coupling between radicals.     

两个氮氧双自由基桥连的稀土一维链的晶体结构、磁性和荧光性能

选用1,2-二苯氧基乙烷取代的氮氧双自由基(BNPhOEt)与稀土金属反应,得到了2例氮氧双自由基-稀土配合物[Ln(hfac)3(BNPhOEt)]·C6H14(Ln=Tb(1)、Ho(2);hfac=六氟乙酰丙酮),其均为2p-4f一维链状结构.磁性研究表明,在配合物1和2中分别存在铁磁和反铁磁耦合.此外,对2个配...     

C(sp2)‐Coupled Nitronyl Nitroxide and Iminonitroxide Diradicals

Spin‐labelled compounds are widely used in chemistry, physics, biology and the materials sciences but the synthesis of stable high‐spin organic molecules is still a challenge. We succeeded in synthesising heteroatom analogues of the 1,1,2,3,3‐pentamethylenepropane (PMP) diradicals with two nitronyl nitroxide ( DR¹ ) and with two iminonitroxide ( DR² ) fragments linked through the C(sp²) atom of the nitrone group. According to magnetic susceptibility measurements, EPR data and ab initio calculations at the (8,6)CASSCF and (8,6)NEVPT2 levels, DR¹ and DR² have singlet ground states. The singlet–triplet energy splitting (2J) is low (J/k=?7.4 for DR¹ and ?6.0 K for DR² ), which comes from the disjoint nature of these diradicals. The reaction of [Cu(hfac)₂] with DR¹ gives rise to different heterospin complexes in which the diradical acts as a rigid ligand, retaining its initial conformation. For the [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂( DR¹ )(H₂O)] complex, sufficiently strong ferromagnetic interactions (J₁/k=42.7 and J₂/k=14.1 K) between two coordinating Cu^II ions and DR¹ were revealed. In [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂( DR¹ )(H₂O)][Cu(hfac)₂(H₂O)], the very strong and antiferromagnetic (J/k=?416.1 K) exchange interaction between one of the coordinating Cu^II ions and DR¹ is caused by the very short equatorial Cu?O bond length (1.962 Å).     

Three Novel Rare-earth Complexes with Nitronyl Nitroxide Radical [RE(hfac)3 (NITPhOCH3)2] [RE = GdIII, YIII and ErIII]: Syntheses, Crystal Structures and Magnetic Properties

Three novel isomorphous complexes of formula [RE(hfac)₃(NITPhOCH₃)₂], where RE = Gd^III, Y^III and Er^III; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NITPhOCH₃ = 4′-methoxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, were synthesized, structurally and magnetically characterized. The crystal structure consists of isolated molecules where the nitronyl nitroxide radicals act as monodentate ligands towards RE(III) through the oxygen atom of the N–O group. The magnetic properties of the complexes were studied by measuring their magnetic susceptibilities at various temperatures in the 5–300 K range. The analyses of these magnetic measurements showed that the spin coupling between the gadolinium ion and the radicals in the Gd^III complex is ferromagnetic, while antiferromagnetic superexchange interaction exists between the two radicals in the Gd^III and Y^III complexes. The Er^III complex reveals an overall intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interaction.     

Syntheses,Structures, and Properties of Two New Tri‐spin Lanthanide‐Nitronyl Nitroxide (LnIII = GdIII and HoIII) Complexes

Abstract. Two radical–Ln^III–radical complexes, [Ln(hfac)₃(NITPh‐Ph)₂] [Ln = Gd ( 1 ) and Ho ( 2 ), hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; and NITPh‐Ph = 4′‐biphenyl‐4, 4, 5, 5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide] were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, as well as IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. X‐ray crystal structure analysis revealed that the structures of both complexes are isomorphous, the central Ln^III ions are coordinated by six oxygen atoms from three hfac ligand molecules and two oxygen atoms from nitronyl radicals. The temperature dependencies of the magnetic susceptibilities were studied. They showed that in the Gd^III complex, ferromagnetic interactions between Gd^III and the radicals and antiferromagnetic interactions between the radicals coexist in this system (with J_Rad–Gd = 0.1 cm^–1, J_Rad–Rad = –0.309 cm^–1).     

Preparation and magnetic properties of 4,6-bis(imino nitroxide)-substituted resorcinol and its Cu-complex

A novel bis(imino nitroxide)-substituted resorcinol 3H, that has two metal-binding sites with two pairs of the phenolate anion and the imino nitrogen atom, was prepared. The powdered sample of 3H showed an intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction (J/k_B = +5 K) between two (imino nitroxide)s through a m-phenylene bridge and a weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic interaction (J/k_B = − 0.9 K). The reaction of 3H with copper acetate in methanolic ammonia was examined to give a hardly soluble Cu-complex that exhibited ferromagnetic behavior in relatively high temperatures (298–55 K).     

Exchange couplings in one-dimensionally arrayed 4f-3d heterometallic [Ln2Cu2]n compounds: A chemical trend of the coupling parameter

Heterometallic polymeric coordination compounds [{Ln(hfac)₂(CH₃OH)}₂{Cu(dmg)(Hdmg)}₂]_n (abbreviated as [Ln₂Cu₂]_n) involving light lanthanoid ions, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu, were synthesized, where H₂dmg and Hhfac stand for dimethylglyoxime and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dione, respectively. The X-ray crystallographic analysis shows that their structures are isomorphous to those of the known heavy lanthanoid analogs. The exchange couplings were evaluated by high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance and pulsed-field magnetization studies, giving ferromagnetic exchange parameters: J_Pr-Cu/k_B = 0.039(1) K, J_Nd-Cu/k_B = 0.38(1) K, J_Sm-Cu/k_B = 0.95(2) K, and no interaction between Eu and Cu ions. A significant trend is found in the order of the periodic table. The ferro- and antiferromagnetic 4f-3d couplings were characterized for the light and heavy lanthanoid derivatives, respectively. The magnitude of J_Ln-Cu decreases with a decrease of the 4f-spin portion, i.e., the number of unpaired electrons, whether the coupling is ferro- or antiferromagnetic.     

Structural and Magnetic Studies on Nickel(II) and Cobalt(II) Complexes with Polychlorinated Diphenyl(4-pyridyl)methyl Radical Ligands

New magnetic metal complexes with organic radical ligands, [M(hfac)₂(PyBTM)₂] (M = Ni^II, Co^II; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonato, PyBTM = (3,5-dichloro-4-pyridyl)bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical), were prepared and their crystal structures, magnetic properties, and electronic structures were investigated. Metal ions in [M(hfac)₂(PyBTM)₂] constructed distorted octahedral coordination geometry, where the two PyBTM molecules ligated in the trans configuration. Magnetic investigation using a SQUID magnetometer revealed that χT increased with decreasing temperature from 300 K in the two complexes, indicating an efficient intramolecular ferromagnetic exchange interaction taking place between the spins on PyBTM and M with J/k_B of 21.8 K and 11.8 K for [Ni^II(hfac)₂(PyBTM)₂] and [Co^II(hfac)₂(PyBTM)₂]. The intramolecular ferromagnetic couplings in the two complexes could be explained by density functional theory calculations, and would be attributed to a nearly orthogonal relationship between the spin orbitals on PyBTM and the metal ions. These results demonstrate that pyridyl-containing triarylmethyl radicals are key building blocks for magnetic molecular materials with controllable/predictable magnetic interactions.     

Density functional theory study of the magnetic properties of rare earth complexes: the magnetic coupling mechanism in YIII and GdIII complexes with nitronyl nitroxide

The magnetic coupling interactions of the nitronyl nitroxide radicals bound to diamagnetic (Y^III) and paramagnetic (Gd^III) rare earth ions in two model magnetic systems based on novel rare earth organic radical complexes Ln(hfac)₃(NITPhOCH₃)₂ (Ln = Y^III 1, Gd^III 2; hafc = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NITPhOCH₃ = 4′-methoxyo-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide) have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT). The magnetic coupling mechanisms were also explored from the viewpoint of molecular orbital and spin density populations. DFT calculations show that the empty 4d-orbitals of Y^III and 5d-orbitals of Gd^III play an important role in the antiferromagnetic coupling between the two nitronyl nitroxide radical ligands, and that the ferromagnetic coupling between the Gd^III ion and the radical magnetic centers can be attributed to the nearly complete localization of the isotropic 4f-shell and singly occupied magnetic orbital (Π^*) of the nitronyl nitroxide.     

Triplet Diradical-Cation Salts Consisting of the Phenothiazine Radical Cation and a Nitronyl Nitroxide

The spin–spin and magnetic properties of two (nitronyl nitroxide)-(di-p-anisylamine-phenothiazine) diradical cation salts, ( DAA-PTZ ) ⁺ -NN⋅ MBr₄⁻ (M=Ga, Fe), have been investigated. These diradical-cation species were prepared by the cross-coupling of iodophenothiazine DAA-PTZ-I with NN-AuPPh₃ followed by oxidation with the thianthrenium radical cation ( TA⁺⋅ MBr₄⁻). These salts were found to be highly stable under aerobic conditions. For the GaBr₄ salt, large ferromagnetic intramolecular and small antiferromagnetic intermolecular interactions (J₁/k_B=+320 K and J₂/k_B=−2 K, respectively) were observed. The magnetic property of the Fe³⁺ salt was analyzed by using a six-spin model assuming identical intramolecular exchange interaction (J₃/k_B=+320 K) and the other exchange interactions (J₄/k_B=−7 K and J₅/k_B=−4 K). A significant color change was observed in the UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectra upon electrochemical oxidation of the doublet DAA-PTZ-NN to the triplet ( DAA-PTZ ) ⁺ -NN .     

2,2′-Bipyridine-6,6′-diyl bisnitroxide as a paramagnetic host: Encapsulation of a zinc(II) ion

A chelate complex of zinc(II) and 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-diyl bis(tert-butyl nitroxide) (bpybNO) with a metal/ligand ratio of 1/2 was structurally characterized to be [Zn(bpybNO)₂][Zn(hfac)₃]₂, where Hhfac stands for 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dione. The magnetic susceptibility measurement indicates the presence of considerable antiferromagnetic interaction among the four S = 1/2 spins. The exchange parameter J was estimated as 2J/k_B = −103(1) K, on the basis of a tetrahedral coupling model. The antiferromagnetic coupling is stronger after complexation than before. The density-functional theory calculation on related model compounds supports the present analysis and clarified the role of the zinc ion as a superexchange coupler.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Magnetic Property of New Trispin Ln(III)‐Nitronyl Nitroxide Complexes

Four Ln(III) complexes based on a new nitronyl nitroxide radical have been synthesized and structurally characterized: {Ln(hfac)₃[NITPh(MeO)₂]₂} (Ln = Eu( 1 ), Gd( 2 ), Tb( 3 ), Dy( 4 ); NITPh(MeO)₂ = 2‐(3′,4′‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate). The single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis shows that these complexes have similar mononuclear trispin structures, in which central Ln(III) ion is eight‐coordinated by two O‐atoms from two nitroxide groups and six O‐atoms from three hfac anions. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility study reveals that there exist ferromagnetic interactions between Gd(III) and the radicals, and antiferromagnetic interactions between two radicals (J_Gd‐Rad = 3.40 cm^?1, J_Rad‐Rad = ?9.99 cm^?1) in complex 2 . Meanwhile, antiferromagnetic interactions are estimated between Eu(III) (or Dy(III)) and radicals in complexes 1 and 4 , and ferromagnetic interaction between Tb(III) and radicals in complex 3 , respectively.     

Elucidating the 2D Magnetic Topology of the ‘Metal–Radical’ TTTA⋅Cu(hfac)2 System

The TTTA ? Cu(hfac)₂ polymer ( 1 ; in which TTTA=1,3,5‐trithia‐2,4,6‐triazapentalenyl, and hfac=(1,1,1,5,5,5)‐hexafluoroacetylacetonate) is one of the most prominent examples of the rational use of the ‘metal–radical’ synthetic approach to achieve ferromagnetic interactions. Experimentally, the magnetic topology of 1 could not be fully deciphered. Herein, the first‐principles bottom‐up procedure was applied to elucidate the nature and strength of the magnetic J_AB exchange interactions present in 1 . The computed J_AB values give rise to a 2D magnetic topology of ferromagnetic dimers (+11.9 cm^?1) coupled through weaker antiferromagnetic interactions (?3.0 and ?3.2 cm^?1) in two different spatial directions. The hitherto unknown origin of the antiferromagnetic interdimer interactions is thus unveiled. By using the 2D magnetic topology, the agreement between calculated and experimental χT(T) data is extraordinary. In the metal–radical TTTA ? Cu(hfac)₂ compound, the computational model transcends the local dimer cluster model owing to strong interactions between metal centers and organic radicals, thereby creating a de facto biradical. In addition, it is shown that the magnetic topology cannot be inferred from the polymeric [TTTA ??? Cu(hfac)₂]_n crystal motif, that is, from its chemical coordination pattern. Instead, one should think in terms of magnetic building blocks, namely, the de facto biradicals.     

Hetero‐tri‐spin [2p‐3d‐4f] Chain Compounds Based on Nitronyl Nitroxide Lanthanide Metallo‐Ligands: Synthesis,Structure, and Magnetic Properties

Employing nitronyl nitroxide lanthanide(III) complexes as metallo‐ligands allowed the efficient and highly selective preparation of three series of unprecedented hetero‐tri‐spin (Cu?Ln‐radical) one‐dimensional compounds. These 2p–3d–4f spin systems, namely [Ln₃Cu(hfac)₁₁(NitPhOAll)₄] (Ln^III=Gd 1_Gd , Tb 1_Tb , Dy 1_Dy ; NitPhOAll=2‐(4′‐allyloxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide), [Ln₃Cu(hfac)₁₁(NitPhOPr)₄] (Ln^III=Gd 2_Gd , Tb 2_Tb , Dy 2_Dy , Ho 2_Ho , Yb 2_Yb ; NitPhOPr=2‐(4′‐propoxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐imidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide) and [Ln₃Cu(hfac)₁₁(NitPhOBz)₄] (Ln^III=Gd 3_Gd , Tb 3_Tb , Dy 3_Dy ; NitPhOBz=2‐(4′‐benzyloxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐imidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide) involve O‐bound nitronyl nitroxide radicals as bridging ligands in chain structures with a [Cu‐Nit‐Ln‐Nit‐Ln‐Nit‐Ln‐Nit] repeating unit. The dc magnetic studies show that ferromagnetic metal–radical interactions take place in these hetero‐tri‐spin chain complexes, these and the next‐neighbor interactions have been quantified for the Gd derivatives. Complexes 1_Tb and 2_Tb exhibit frequency dependence of ac magnetic susceptibilities, indicating single‐chain magnet behavior.     

(Azulene‐1,3‐diyl)‐bis(nitronyl nitroxide) and (Azulene‐1,3‐diyl)‐bis(iminonitroxide) and Their Copper Complexes

In contrast to diradicals connected by alternant hydrocarbons, only a few studies on those connected by nonalternant hydrocarbons have been reported. The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of azulene‐1,3‐diyl linked bis(nitronyl nitroxide) (NN₂Az) and bis(iminonitroxide) (IN₂Az) diradicals and their Cu(hfac)₂ (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate) complexes were investigated. NN₂Az was shown to have an intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction with J _obs/k _B=+10.0 K (H =−2J S ₁ ⋅S ₂) between (nitronyl nitroxide) spins, whereas IN₂Az was estimated to have a much weaker intramolecular magnetic interaction. The reactions of NN₂Az and IN₂Az with Cu(hfac)₂ gave a 1:2 [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂(NN₂Az)] complex and a 1:1 [Cu(hfac)₂(IN₂Az)] ⋅ C₆H₁₂ complex, respectively. [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂(NN₂Az)] showed strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions (J _1‐Cu‐R/k _B≈−800 K, J _2‐Cu‐R/k _B≈−500 K) between the Cu^II spins and the coordinating NN spins, whereas [Cu(hfac)₂(IN₂Az)] exhibited a ferromagnetic exchange interaction (J _obs‐Cu‐R/k _B=+114 K) between the Cu^II spin and the imino‐coordinated iminonitroxide spin.     

Mono- and Binuclear Copper(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes with the 3,6-Bis(picolylamino)-1,2,4,5-Tetrazine Ligand

Four new compounds of formulas [Cu(hfac)₂(L)] (1), [Ni(hfac)₂(L)] (2), [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂(µ-L)]·2CH₃OH (3) and [{Ni(hfac)₂}₂(µ-L)]·2CH₃CN (4) [Hhfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone and L = 3,6-bis(picolylamino)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine] have been prepared and their structures determined by X-ray diffraction on single crystals. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural mononuclear complexes where the metal ions [copper(II) (1) and nickel(II) (2)] are six-coordinated in distorted octahedral MN₂O₄ surroundings which are built by two bidentate hfac ligands plus another bidentate L molecule. This last ligand coordinates to the metal ions through the nitrogen atoms of the picolylamine fragment. Compounds 3 and 4 are centrosymmetric homodinuclear compounds where two bidentate hfac units are the bidentate capping ligands at each metal center and a bis-bidentate L molecule acts as a bridge. The values of the intramolecular metal···metal separation are 7.97 (3) and 7.82 Å (4). Static (dc) magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out for polycrystalline samples 1–4 in the temperature range 1.9–300 K. Curie law behaviors were observed for 1 and 2, the downturn of χ_MT in the low temperature region for 2 being due to the zero-field splitting of the nickel(II) ion. Very weak [J = −0.247(2) cm⁻¹] and relatively weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions [J = −4.86(2) cm⁻¹] occurred in 3 and 4, respectively (the spin Hamiltonian being defined as H = −JS₁·S₂). Simple symmetry considerations about the overlap between the magnetic orbitals across the extended bis-bidentate L bridge in 3 and 4 account for their magnetic properties.     

Influence of the Coordinated Transition Metal Ion on Magnetic Relaxation of Lanthanide Based Complexes with Imino Nitroxide Biradical Ligands

In spite of achievement of a lot of Ln-radical SMMs, how to improve magnetic behavior of Ln-radical system remains challenging. Here, two series of Ln-radical complexes have successfully been built using an imino nitroxide biradical, namely, [Ln₂(hfac)₆(ImPhPyobis)₂] (Ln^III=Gd 1 , Tb 2 , Dy 3 ) and [Ln₂Cu₂(hfac)₁₀(ImPhPyobis)₂] (Ln^III=Gd 4 , Dy 5 ; hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate and ImPhPyobis=5-(4-oxypyridinium-1-yl)-1,3-bis(1’-oxyl-4’,4’,5’,5’-tetramethyl-4,5-hydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzene). For these biradical-metal complexes, two imino nitroxide biradicals bind two Ln(III) ions via their oxygen atoms coming from 4-oxypyridinium units to produce a binuclear {Ln₂O₂} unit. Those imino nitroxide groups are free for complexes 1 – 3 , however one of imino nitroxide groups of the biradical is ligated to the copper(II) ion for complexes 4 and 5 . The distinct magnetic relaxation behaviors are observed for two Dy derivatives, as revealed by ac magnetic studies: complex 3 presents one magnetic process with the effective energy barrier(U_eff) of 74.0 K while complex 5 exhibits dual relaxation processes with U_eff values for the fast- and slow-relaxation being 20.2 K and 30.9 K, respectively, which implies that the second coordination sphere of Dy ion plays a critical role for magnetic relaxation.     

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.     

Attaining record-high magnetic exchange,magnetic anisotropy and blocking barriers in dilanthanofullerenes

While the blocking barrier (U_eff) and blocking temperature (T_B) for “Dysprocenium” SIMs have been increased beyond liquid N₂ temperature, device fabrication of these molecules remains a challenge as low-coordinate Ln³⁺ complexes are very unstable. Encapsulating the lanthanide ion inside a cage such as a fullerene (called endohedral metallofullerene or EMF) opens up a new avenue leading to several Ln@EMF SMMs. The ab initio CASSCF calculations play a pivotal role in identifying target metal ions and suitable cages in this area. Encouraged by our earlier prediction on Ln₂@C₇₉N, which was verified by experiments, here we have undertaken a search to enhance the exchange coupling in this class of molecules beyond the highest reported value. Using DFT and ab initio calculations, we have studied a series of Gd₂@C_2n (30 ≤ 2n ≤ 80), where an antiferromagnetic J_Gd⋯Gd of −43 cm⁻¹ was found for a stable Gd₂@C₃₈-D_3h cage. This extremely large and exceptionally rare 4f⋯4f interaction results from a direct overlap of 4f orbitals due to the confinement effect. In larger cages such as Gd₂@C₆₀ and Gd₂@C₈₀, the formation of two centre-one-electron (2c-1e⁻) Gd–Gd bonds is perceived. This results in a radical formation in the fullerene cage leading to its instability. To avoid this, we have studied heterofullerenes where one of the carbon atoms is replaced by a nitrogen atom. Specifically, we have studied Ln₂@C₅₉N and Ln₂@C₇₉N, where strong delocalisation of the electron yields a mixed valence-like behaviour. This suggests a double-exchange (B) is operational, and CASSCF calculations yield a B value of 434.8 cm⁻¹ and resultant J_Gd–rad of 869.5 cm⁻¹ for the Gd₂@C₅₉N complex. These parameters are found to be two times larger than the world-record J reported for Gd₂@C₇₉N. Further ab initio calculations reveal an unprecedented U_cal of 1183 and 1501 cm⁻¹ for Dy₂@C₅₉N and Tb₂@C₅₉N, respectively. Thus, this study offers strong exchange coupling as criteria for new generation SMMs as the existing idea of enhancing the blocking barrier via crystal field modulation has reached its saturation point.

Using ab initio calculations, we have made some robust predictions towards lanthanofullerene SMMs exhibiting remarkable characteristics.     

Four tri-spin lanthanide–nitronyl nitroxide (LnIII = GdIII,DyIII, ErIII,and HoIII) complexes: syntheses,structures, and magnetic properties

Four radical–Ln(III)–radical complexes, [Ln(hfac)₃(NITPhSCH₃)₂] (Ln?=?Gd (1), Dy (2), Er (3), Ho (4); hfac?=?hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NITPhSCH₃?=?4′-thiomethylphenyl-4,4,5,5tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide), have been synthesized, and structurally and magnetically characterized. The X-ray crystal structures show that the structures of the four complexes are similar, consisting of isolated molecules in which Ln(III) ions are coordinated by six oxygen atoms from three hfac and two oxygen atoms from nitronyl radicals. The temperature dependencies of magnetic susceptibilities for the four complexes show that in the Gd(III) complex, ferromagnetic interactions between Gd(III)–radical and antiferromagnetic interactions between the radicals coexist with J _Rad–Gd?=?1.09?cm^?1, J _Rad–Rad?=??1.85?cm^?1.