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.     

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.     

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 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.     

Mononuclear Fe(II) single-molecule magnets: a theoretical approach

The single-molecule magnet behavior found in mononuclear tetracoordinate Fe(II) complexes with trigonal monopyramidal coordination due to large magnetic anisotropy has been analyzed using theoretical methods based on CASSCF-RASSI calculations. We focus our study on the dependence of such magnetic properties on the geometrical parameters of the complexes (asymmetry of the ligands and the out-of-plane shift of the Fe(II) cation with respect to the three equatorial nitrogen atoms) and the influence of the basicity of the N ligands. Low basicity, larger shifts, and larger distortions of the FeN(4) central framework decrease the D value and increase the E value. Also, we predict similar magnetic properties for similar pentacoordinate complexes adding an axial ligand that will increase the chemical stability of such systems.     

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 novel class of tetrairon(III) single-molecule magnets with graphene-binding groups

Tripods of general formula R’–O–CH₂C(CH₂OH)₃ are excellent site-specific ligands for the preparation of functionalized Fe₄ single-molecule magnets. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of two novel complexes designed to bind graphene surfaces, in which the R group consists of an alkyl spacer –(CH₂)_n– (n = 6 and 10) and a terminal pyrenyl moiety. The site-specific ligand substitution on [Fe₄(OMe)₆(dpm)₆] (Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane) with the new tripods has been studied with ²H NMR on isotopically-enriched samples, revealing that, once formed, these clusters are stable in solution over long timescales. It was not possible to isolate the new compounds as crystalline solids, nevertheless they were chemically characterized by elemental analysis and ¹H NMR. The presence of the pyrenyl ending groups prompted us to investigate the effect of metal complexation on fluorescence, and a full pyrene-to-iron cluster excitation energy transfer was observed. The analysis of the magnetic behaviour revealed an S = 5 ground spin state with a negative zero-field splitting parameter D = ?0.42 cm^?1.     

Solid-state dinuclear-to-trinuclear conversion in an oxalato-bridged chromium(III)-cobalt(II) complex as a new route toward single-molecule magnets

A novel bis(oxalato)chromium(III) salt of a ferromagnetically coupled, oxalato-bridged dinuclear chromium(III)-cobalt(II) complex of formula [CrL(ox)(2)CoL'(H(2)O)(2)][CrL(ox)(2)]·4H(2)O (1) has been self-assembled in solution using different aromatic α,α'-diimines as blocking ligands, such as 2,2'-bipyridine (L = bpy) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (L' = Me(2)phen). Thermal dehydration of 1 leads to an intriguing solid-state reaction between the S = 3/2 Cr(III) anions and the S = 3 Cr(III)Co(II) cations to give a ferromagnetically coupled, oxalato-bridged trinuclear chromium(III)-cobalt(II) complex of formula {[CrL(ox)(2)](2)CoL'} (2). Complex 2 possesses a moderately anisotropic S = 9/2 Cr(III)(2)Co(II) ground state, and it exhibits slow magnetic relaxation behavior at very low temperatures (T(B) < 2.0 K).     

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.     

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.     

Pentadentate terpyridine-catechol linked ligands and their cobalt(III) complexes

A series of novel pentadentate terpyridine-catechol linked ligands were prepared, in which the terpyridine and catechol moieties were linked together by (CH2)n chains of different lengths (n = 4-6). Together with 1-methylimidazole, these ligands formed low-spin, six-coordinate Co(III) complexes. Two of the complexes (n = 4, 5) were characterized by X-ray crystallography [n = 4, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 14.957(7) A, b = 10.585(9) A, c = 23.033(7) A, beta = 106.01(3) degrees, V = 3505(3) A3, Z = 4, R = 0.063; n = 5, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 8.848(7) A, b = 15.78(1) A, c = 25.455(7) A, beta = 93.90(5) degrees, V = 3544(3) A3, Z = 4, R = 0.056], which revealed similar structures around the Co(III) centers but different conformations for the (CH2)n linkers. The (CH2)4 linker showed a straight, symmetric conformation whereas the (CH2)5 linker showed a curved conformation that allowed the accommodation of one extra CH2 unit, suggesting that the (CH2)4 linker presents the "best-fit" length for these complexes.     

Tetracoordinate cobalt(II) complexes with neocuproine: single-molecule magnets with potential biological activity

Interaction of two mononuclear tetracoordinate complexes [Co(dmphen)Br₂] and [Co(dmphen)I₂] (dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), which have been recently reported to behave as single-molecule magnets (SMMs) in an applied external field, with calf thymus (CT) DNA in solution was studied by spectral methods (UV–Vis, fluorescence, and circular dichroism). Results indicate that both complexes along with their chlorido analogue [Co(dmphen)Cl₂] are able to bind with the CT DNA via intercalation, with the values of Stern–Volmer constants obtained from the linear quenching plot in range of 1.86 × 10⁴–2.11 × 10⁴ M^?1. Furthermore, Topoisomerase I inhibition studies suggest that all three complexes exhibit inhibition activity at concentrations of 45 μM.     

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.     

Copper(II) complexes of ligands derived from tryptamine

Three new ligands with an indole substituent tethered to a pyridylalkylamine or imidazolylalkylamine metal-binding domain have been prepared from tryptamine. Copper(II) complexes have been prepared and characterized, three by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemistry has been used to ascertain the mutual effects of the copper and indole redox centres upon each other.     

Octacyanometallate-based single-molecule magnets: Co(II)9M(V)6 (M = W, Mo)

Two octacyanometallate-based clusters, {CoII9[WV(CN)8]6.(CH3OH)24}.19H2O (1) and {CoII9[MoV(CN)8]6.(CH3OH)24}.4CH3OH.16H2O (2), have been synthesized. Both complexes show the single-molecule magnet behavior.     

Copper(I) and copper(II) complexes of diamino-dithioether ligands

Summary Copper(II) salts were reacted with two diamino-dithioether ligands, i.e. 1,3-di(o-aminophenylthio)propane (abbreviated H₂L¹) and 1,2-di(o-aminophenylthio)xylene (abbreviated H₂L²). Mixtures of copper(I) and copper(II) complexes were obtained with Cl^– and ClO ₄ ^– counterions. The major products were the copper(I) complexes, which were obtained pure after recrystallisation from MeCN-MeOH. The ligands lose two protons from the amine functions to form copper(I) complexes of general formula [CuL]X, where X = ClO ₄ ^– or Cl^–. The complexes were oxidised to [CuL]X₂ with H₂O₂ in DMF. Cu(NO₃)₂ on the other hand gave [CuH₂LNO₃]NO₃.