Studies of a Large Odd‐Numbered Odd‐Electron Metal Ring: Inelastic Neutron Scattering and Muon Spin Relaxation Spectroscopy of Cr8Mn

The spin dynamics of Cr₈Mn, a nine‐membered antiferromagnetic (AF) molecular nanomagnet, are investigated. Cr₈Mn is a rare example of a large odd‐membered AF ring, and has an odd‐number of 3d‐electrons present. Odd‐membered AF rings are unusual and of interest due to the presence of competing exchange interactions that result in frustrated‐spin ground states. The chemical synthesis and structures of two Cr₈Mn variants that differ only in their crystal packing are reported. Evidence of spin frustration is investigated by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and muon spin relaxation spectroscopy (μSR). From INS studies we accurately determine an appropriate microscopic spin Hamiltonian and we show that μSR is sensitive to the ground‐spin‐state crossing from S=1/2 to S=3/2 in Cr₈Mn. The estimated width of the muon asymmetry resonance is consistent with the presence of an avoided crossing. The investigation of the internal spin structure of the ground state, through the analysis of spin‐pair correlations and scalar‐spin chirality, shows a non‐collinear spin structure that fluctuates between non‐planar states of opposite chiralities.     

Uranium Metalla‐Allenes with Carbene Imido R2C=UIV=NR′ Units (R=Ph2PNSiMe3; R′=CPh3): Alkali‐Metal‐Mediated Push–Pull Effects with an Amido Auxiliary

We report uranium(IV)‐carbene‐imido‐amide metalla‐allene complexes [U(BIPM^TMS)(NCPh₃)(NHCPh₃)(M)] (BIPM^TMS=C(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂; M=Li or K) that can be described as R₂C=U=NR′ push–pull metalla‐allene units, as organometallic counterparts of the well‐known push–pull organic allenes. The solid‐state structures reveal that the R₂C=U=NR′ units adopt highly unusual cis‐arrangements, which are also reproduced by gas‐phase theoretical studies conducted without the alkali metals to remove their potential structure‐directing roles. Computational studies confirm the double‐bond nature of the U=NR′ and U=CR₂ interactions, the latter increasingly attenuated by potassium then lithium when compared to the hypothetical alkali‐metal‐free anion. Combined experimental and theoretical data show that the push–pull effect induced by the alkali metal cations and amide auxiliary gives a fundamental and tunable structural influence over the C=U^IV=N units.     

Large spin, magnetically anisotropic, octametallic vanadium(iii) clusters with strong ferromagnetic coupling

Syntheses, structural and magnetic and EPR data are reported for two octametallic V(III) clusters with anisotropic S = 4 ground states arising from strong ferromagnetic exchange interactions.     

Substantial increase of the ordering temperature for [MnII/MoIII(CN)7]-based magnets as a function of the 3d ion site geometry: example of two supramolecular materials with Tc = 75 and 106 K

Two molecule-based magnets, [Mn(2)(tea)Mo(CN)(7)].H(2)O, 1, and [Mn(2)(tea)Mo(CN)(7)], 2 (tea stands for triethanolamine), formed with the 4d ion building block, [Mo(CN)(7)](4)(-), Mn(II) ions, and an additional ligand, tea, have been prepared and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray analyses. Whereas 1 is obtained by a self-assembling process in solution, compound 2 is quantitatively formed through a smooth thermal treatment of 1. Their magnetic properties revealed that these compounds exhibit magnetic ordering at T(c) = 75 and 106 K respectively for compounds 1 and 2. The difference for their critical temperature is attributed to the geometry of the coordination sphere of a Mn(II) site found to be square-pyramidal for 1 and tetrahedral for 2.     

Studies of an Fe9 tridiminished icosahedron

The synthesis and structural characterization of a nonanuclear FeIII cage complex is reported. The nine iron centers in [Fe9(mu3-O)4(O3PPh)3(O2CCMe3)13] lie on the vertices of an incomplete icosahedron, with the P atoms of triphenylphosphonate at the other three vertices. The paramagnetic core therefore describes a tridiminished icosahedron. Magnetic studies suggest an S=1/2 ground state for the molecule. Analysis of exchange paths and the susceptibility data point to the interpretation that the cluster can be divided into two nearly decoupled sections: an {Fe6O3} section, with an S=0 ground state, in which three oxo-centered triangles bound a central triangle that is not oxo-centered; and an {Fe3O} triangle with S=1/2. The analysis of the susceptibility data leads to a Heisenberg model based on three significant antiferromagnetic exchange interactions, with values of 173.7 cm-1 in the {Fe3O} triangle, and 30.9 and 19.1 cm-1 within the {Fe6O3} section, while the exchange between them is <1 cm-1. With these assignments, the theoretical low-temperature differential susceptibility is also in very good agreement with measurements up to 50 T. Magnetic measurements in the milli-kelvin range reveal striking hysteresis loops and magnetization reversals associated with a Landau-Zener-Stückelberg (LZS) transition as enhanced by the occurrence of a phonon bottleneck.     

Pentanuclear cyanide-bridged complexes based on highly anisotropic Co(II) seven-coordinate building blocks: synthesis, structure, and magnetic behavior

Pentagonal-bipyramidal complexes [Co(DABPH)X(H(2)O)]X [X = NO(3) (1), Br (2), I (3)] were synthesized, and their magnetic behavior was investigated. Simulation of the magnetization versus temperature data revealed the complexes to be highly anisotropic (D ≈ +30 cm(-1)) and the magnitude of the anisotropy to be independent of the nature of the axial ligands. The reaction of 1 with K(3)[M(CN)(6)] (M = Cr, Fe) produces the pentametallic clusters [{Co(DABPH)}(3){M(CN)(6)}(2)(H(2)O)(2)] [M = Cr (4), Fe (5)]. Both clusters consist of three {Co(DABPH)} moieties separated by two {M(CN)(6)} fragments. In 4, the central and terminal Co(II) ions are bound to cyanide groups cis to one another on the bridging {Cr(CN)(6)}, whereas in 5, the connections are via trans cyanide ligands, resulting in the zigzag and linear structures observed, respectively. Magnetic investigation revealed ferromagnetic intramolecular interactions; however, the ground states were poorly isolated because of the large positive local anisotropies of the Co(II) ions. The effects of the local anisotropies appeared to dominate the behavior in 5, where the magnetic axes of the Co(II) ions were approximately colinear, compared to 4, where they were closer to orthogonal.     

Chromium(III) stars and butterflies: synthesis, structural and magnetic studies of tetrametallic clusters

We report the synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of a series of chromium(III) metal-centered triangle (or "star") clusters, [Cr(4){RC(CH(2)O)(3)}(2)(4,4'-R'(2)-bipy)(3)Cl(6)] [R = Et, R' = H (2); R = HOCH(2), R' = H (3); R = Et, R' = (t)Bu (4)], prepared by two-step solvothermal reactions starting from [CrCl(3)(thf)(3)]. The product of the first stage of this reaction is the salt [Cr(bipy)(2)Cl(2)](2)[Cr(2)Cl(8)(MeCN)(2)] (1). In the absence of the diimine, a different family of tetrametallics is isolated: the butterfly complexes [Cr(4){EtC(CH(2)O)(3)}(2){NH(C(R)NH)(2)}(2)Cl(6)] (R = Me (5), Et (6), Ph (7)] where the chelating N-acetimidoylacetamidine NH(C(R)=NH)(2) ligands are formed in situ via condensation of the nitrile solvents (RCN) under solvothermal conditions. Magnetic measurements show the chromium stars to have an isolated S = 3 ground state, arising from antiferromagnetic coupling between the central and peripheral metal ions, analogous to the well-known Fe(III) stars. Bulk antiferromagnetic ordering is observed at 0.6 K. The butterfly complexes have a singlet ground state, with a low-lying S = 1 first excited state, due to dominant wing-body antiferromagnetic coupling.     

Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Rotaxanes,Including a Hetero‐Hybrid [3]Rotaxane Featuring Two Distinct Heterometallic Rings and a Molecular Shuttle

[2] and [3] hybrid rotaxanes are reported based on {Ti₇M} rings (M is a trivalent metal such as Fe^III or Ga^III). NMR studies show that [2]rotaxanes can act as molecular shuttles, while EPR studies of [3]rotaxanes show weak interactions between the paramagnetic components of the supramolecular assemblies.     

Determination of Pesticides in Carrots by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACT

A sensitive and selective method was developed to determine pesticides in carrots by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry following the development of an optimized extraction procedure. The method was validated for 30 organochlorine pesticides for gas chromatography with electron capture detection obtaining limit of detection from 0.18 to 0.92?µg/kg except for cis- and trans-permenthrin. Twenty-six carrot samples were analyzed and six pesticides were detected. The results compared with the accepted maximum residue levels in correlation to crop origin.     

Acetylation Rather than H50Q Mutation Impacts the Kinetics of Cu(II) Binding to α-Synuclein

The interaction between α-synuclein (αSyn) and Cu²⁺ has been suggested to be closely linked to brain copper homeostasis. Disruption of copper levels could induce misfolding and aggregation of αSyn, and thus contribute to the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Understanding the molecular mechanism of αSyn-Cu²⁺ interaction is important and controversies in Cu²⁺ coordination geometry with αSyn still exists. Herein, we find that the pathological H50Q mutation has no impact on the kinetics of Cu²⁺ binding to the high-affinity site of wild type αSyn (WT-αSyn), indicating the non-involvement of His50 in high-affinity Cu²⁺ binding to WT-αSyn. In contrast, the physiological N-terminally acetylated αSyn (NAc-αSyn) displays several orders of magnitude weaker Cu²⁺ binding affinity than WT-αSyn. Cu²⁺ coordination mode to NAc-αSyn has also been proposed based on EPR spectrum. In addition, we find that Cu²⁺ coordinated WT-αSyn is reduction-active in the presence of GSH, but essentially inactive towards ascorbate. Our work provides new insights into αSyn-Cu²⁺ interaction, which may help understand the multifaceted normal functions of αSyn as well as pathological consequences of αSyn aggregation.