Enantioselective Self‐Assembly of Triangular Dy3 Clusters with Single‐Molecule Magnet Behavior

Three pairs of enantiopure chiral triangular Ln₃ clusters, [Ln₃L_{RRRRRR/SSSSSS}(μ₃‐OH)₂(H₂O)₂(SCN)₄]?xCH₃OH?yH₂O ( R ‐Dy₃ , Ln=Dy, x=6, y=0; S ‐Dy₃ , Ln=Dy, x=6, y=1; R ‐Ho₃ , Ln=Ho, x=6, y=1; S ‐Ho₃ , Ln=Ho, x=6, y=1; R ‐Er₃ , Ln=Er, x=6, y=0; S ‐Er₃ , Ln=Er, x=6, y=1), have been successfully synthesized by a rational enantioselective synthetic strategy. The core of triangular Ln₃ is bound in the central N₆O₃ of the macrocyclic ligand, and the coordination spheres of Ln ions are completed by four SCN^? anions and two H₂O molecules in axial positions of the macrocycle. The circular dichroism (CD) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of the enantiomers demonstrate that the chirality is successfully transferred from the ligands to the resulting Ln₃ clusters. Ac susceptibility measurements reveal that single‐molecule magnet behavior occurs for both enantiopure clusters of R ‐Dy₃ and S ‐Dy₃ . This work is one of the few examples of the successful design of a pair of triangular Dy₃ clusters showing simultaneously slow magnetic relaxation and optical activity, and this might open up new opportunities to develop novel multifunctional materials.     

A High‐Temperature Molecular Ferroelectric Zn/Dy Complex Exhibiting Single‐Ion‐Magnet Behavior and Lanthanide Luminescence

Multifunctional molecular ferroelectrics are exciting materials synthesized using molecular chemistry concepts, which may combine a spontaneous electrical polarization, switched upon applying an electric field, with another physical property. A high‐temperature ferroelectric material is presented that is based on a chiral Zn²⁺/Dy³⁺ complex exhibiting Dy³⁺ luminescence, optical activity, and magnetism. We investigate the correlations between the electric polarization and the crystal structure as well as between the low‐temperature magnetic slow relaxation and the optical properties.     

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.     

Heterodinuclear Lanthanoid‐Containing Polyoxometalates: Stepwise Synthesis and Single‐Molecule Magnet Behavior

Polyoxometalates (POMs) with heterodinuclear lanthanoid cores, TBA₈H₄[{Ln(μ₂‐OH)₂Ln′}(γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₆)₂] ( LnLn′ ; Ln=Gd, Dy; Ln′=Eu, Yb, Lu; TBA=tetra‐n‐butylammonium), were successfully synthesized through the stepwise incorporation of two types of lanthanoid cations into the vacant sites of lacunary [γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₆]^8? units without the use of templating cations. The incorporation of a Ln³⁺ ion into the vacant site between two [γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₆]^8? units afforded mononuclear Ln³⁺‐containing sandwich‐type POMs with vacant sites ( Ln1 ; TBA₈H₅[{Ln(H₂O)₄}(γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₆)₂]; Ln=Dy, Gd, La). The vacant sites in Ln1 were surrounded by coordinating W? O and Ln? O oxygen atoms. On the addition of one equivalent of [Ln′(acac)₃] to solutions of Dy1 or Gd1 in 1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE), heterodinuclear lanthanoid cores with bis(μ₂‐OH) bridging ligands, [Dy(μ₂‐OH)₂Ln′]⁴⁺, were selectively synthesized ( LnLn′ ; Ln=Dy, Gd; Ln′=Eu, Yb, Lu). On the other hand, La1 , which contained the largest lanthanoid cation, could not accommodate a second Ln′³⁺ ion. DyLn′ showed single‐molecule magnet behavior and their energy barriers for magnetization reversal (ΔE/k_B) could be manipulated by adjusting the coordination geometry and anisotropy of the Dy³⁺ ion by tuning the adjacent Ln′³⁺ ion in the heterodinuclear [Dy(μ₂‐OH)₂Ln′]⁴⁺ cores. The energy barriers increased in the order: DyLu (ΔE/k_B=48 K)< DyYb (53 K)< DyDy (66 K)< DyEu (73 K), with an increase in the ionic radii of Ln′³⁺; DyEu showed the highest energy barrier.     

A Heterometallic FeII–DyIII Single‐Molecule Magnet with a Record Anisotropy Barrier

A record anisotropy barrier (319 cm^?1) for all d‐f complexes was observed for a unique Fe^II‐Dy^III‐Fe^II single‐molecule magnet (SMM), which possesses two asymmetric and distorted Fe^II ions and one quasi‐D_5h Dy^III ion. The frozen magnetization of the Dy^III ion leads to the decreased Fe^II relaxation rates evident in the Mössbauer spectrum. Ab initio calculations suggest that tunneling is interrupted effectively thanks to the exchange doublets.     

A Trigonal‐Pyramidal Erbium(III) Single‐Molecule Magnet

Given the recent advent of mononuclear single‐molecule magnets (SMMs), a rational approach based on lanthanides with axially elongated f‐electron charge cloud (prolate) has only recently received attention. We report herein a new SMM, [Li(THF)₄[Er{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃Cl]?2 THF, which exhibits slow relaxation of the magnetization under zero dc field with an effective barrier to the reversal of magnetization (ΔE_eff/k_B=63.3 K) and magnetic hysteresis up to 3 K at a magnetic field sweep rate of 34.6 Oe s^?1. This work questions the theory that oblate or prolate lanthanides must be stabilized with the appropriate ligand framework in order for SMM behavior to be favored.     

Control of the Single‐Molecule Magnet Behavior of Lanthanide‐Diarylethene Photochromic Assemblies by Irradiation with Light

Lanthanide‐based extended coordination frameworks showing photocontrolled single‐molecule magnet (SMM) behavior were prepared by combining highly anisotropic Dy^III and Ho^III ions with the carboxylato‐functionalized photochromic molecule 1,2‐bis(5‐carboxyl‐2‐methyl‐3‐thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (H₂dae), which acts as a bridging ligand. As a result, two new compounds of the general formula [{Ln^III₂(dae)₃(DMSO)₃(MeOH)} ? 10 M eOH]_n (M=Dy for 1 a and Ho for 2 ) and two additional pseudo‐polymorphs [{Dy^III₂(dae)₃(DMSO)₃(H₂O)} ? x MeOH]_n ( 1 b ) and [{Dy^III₂(dae)₃(DMSO)₃(DMSO)} ? x MeOH]_n ( 1 c ) were obtained. All four compounds have 2D coordination‐layer topologies, in which carboxylate‐bridged Ln₂ units are linked together by dae^2? anions into grid‐like frameworks. All four compounds exhibited a strong reversible photochromic response to UV/Vis light. Moreover, both 1 a and 2 show field‐induced SMM behavior. The slow magnetic relaxation of 1 a is influenced by the photoisomerization reaction leading to the observation of the cross‐effect: photocontrolled SMM behavior.     

Solvent Responsive Magnetic Dynamics of a Dinuclear Dysprosium Single‐Molecule Magnet

A new dysprosium(III) phosphonate dimer {Dy(notpH₄)(NO₃)(H₂O)}₂ ? 8 H₂O ( 1 ) [notpH₆=1,4,7‐triazacyclononane‐1,4,7‐triyl‐tris(methylenephosphonic acid)] that contains two equivalent Dy^III ions with a three‐capped trigonal prism environment is reported. Complex 1 can be transformed into {Dy(notpH₄)(NO₃)(H₂O)}₂ ( 2 ) in a reversible manner by desorption and absorption of solvent water at ambient temperature. This process is accompanied by a large dielectric response. Magnetic studies reveal that both 1 and 2 show thermally activated magnetization relaxation as expected for single‐molecule magnets. Moreover, the magnetic dynamics of the two compounds can be manipulated by controlling the number of solvent molecules at room temperature.     

Rational Electrostatic Design of Easy‐Axis Magnetic Anisotropy in a ZnII–DyIII–ZnII Single‐Molecule Magnet with a High Energy Barrier

Two novel trinuclear complexes [ZnCl(μ‐L)Ln(μ‐L)ClZn][ZnCl₃(CH₃OH)]?3 CH₃OH (Ln^III=Dy ( 1 ) and Er ( 2 )) have been prepared from the compartmental ligand N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐3‐formyl‐5‐bromo‐benzyl)ethylenediamine (H₂L). X‐ray studies reveal that Ln^III ions are coordinated by two [ZnCl(L)]^? units through the phenoxo and aldehyde groups, giving rise to a LnO₈ coordination sphere with square‐antiprism geometry and strong easy‐axis anisotropy of the ground state. Ab initio CASSCF+RASSI calculations carried out on 1 confirm that the ground state is an almost pure M_J=±15/2 Kramers doublet with a marked axial anisotropy, the magnetic moment is roughly collinear with the shortest Dy?O distances. This orientation of the local magnetic moment of the Dy^III ion in 1 is adopted to reduce the electronic repulsion between the oblate electron shape of the M_J=±15/2 Kramers doublet and the phenoxo‐oxygen donor atoms involved in the shortest Dy?O bonds. CASSCF+RASSI calculations also show that the ground and first excited states of the Dy^III ion are separated by 129 cm^?1. As expected for this large energy gap, compound 1 exhibits, in a zero direct‐current field, thermally activated slow relaxation of the magnetization with a large U_eff=140 K. The isostructural Zn–Er–Zn species does not present significant SMM behavior as expected for the prolate electron‐density distribution of the Er^III ion leading to an easy‐plane anisotropy of the ground doublet state.     

Single‐Molecule Electroluminescence of a Phosphorescent Organometallic Complex

Lighting one by one: The electroluminescence (EL) from single molecules of a red phosphorescent iridium complex dispersed in a hole‐transporting polymer matrix is studied. The single‐molecule EL dynamics is determined by local structural inhomogeneities in the matrix polymer (see picture).

     

Reversible SC‐SC Transformation involving [4+4] Cycloaddition of Anthracene: A Single‐Ion to Single‐Molecule Magnet and Yellow‐Green to Blue‐White Emission

In search of magneto‐optic materials, the mononuclear compounds Ln^III(depma)(NO₃)₃(hmpa)₂ (Ln=Dy, Gd) were synthesized. The anthracene moieties undergo [4+4] dimerization when irradiated at 365 nm without loss of crystallinity. The Dy compound switches from a single‐ion to a single‐molecule magnet with doubling of the spin reversal barrier energy and from yellow‐green to blue‐white emission. The dimerization is reversed by heating at 100 °C or partially on light irradiating at 254 nm. The results suggest that lanthanide phosphonates with anthracene are promising smart materials displaying synergistic magneto‐optic property.     

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.