On the Controversial Fitting of Susceptibility Curves of Ferromagnetic CuII Cubanes: Insights from Theoretical Calculations

This paper reports a theoretical analysis of the electronic structure and magnetic properties of a tetranuclear Cu^II complex, [Cu₄(HL)₄], which has a 4+2 cubane‐like structure (H₃L=N,N′‐(2‐hydroxypropane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(acetylacetoneimine)). These theoretical calculations indicate a quintet (S=2) ground state; the energy‐level distribution of the magnetic states confirm Heisenberg behaviour and correspond to an S₄ spin–spin interaction model. The dominant interaction is the ferromagnetic coupling between the pseudo‐dimeric units (J₁=22.2 cm^?1), whilst a weak and ferromagnetic interaction is found within the pseudo‐dimeric units (J₂=1.4 cm^?1). The amplitude and sign of these interactions are consistent with the structure and arrangement of the magnetic Cu 3d orbitals; they accurately simulate the thermal dependence of magnetic susceptibility, but do not agree with the reported J values (J₁=38.4 cm^?1, J₂=?18.0 cm^?1) that result from the experimental fitting. This result is not an isolated case; many other polynuclear systems, in particular 4+2 Cu^II cubanes, have been reported in which the fitted magnetic terms are not consistent with the geometrical features of the system. In this context, theoretical evaluation can be considered as a valuable tool in the interpretation of the macroscopic behaviour, thus providing clues for a rational and directed design of new materials with specific properties.     

Magnetic Coupling Constants of Self‐Assembled CuII [3×3] Grids: Alternative Spin Model from Theoretical Calculations

This paper reports a theoretical analysis of the electronic structure and magnetic properties of a ferromagnetic Cu^II [3×3] grid. A two‐step strategy, combining calculations on the whole grid and on binuclear fragments, has been employed to evaluate all the magnetic interactions in the grid. The calculations confirm an S=7/2 ground state, which is in accordance with the magnetisation versus field curve and the thermal dependence of the magnetic moment data. Only the first‐neighbour coupling terms present non‐negligible amplitudes, all of them in agreement with the structure and arrangement of the Cu 3d magnetic orbitals. The results indicate that the dominant interaction in the system is the antiferromagnetic coupling between the ring and the central Cu sites (J₃=J₄≈?31 cm^?1). In the ring two different interactions can be distinguished, J₁=4.6 cm^?1 and J₂=?0.1 cm^?1, in contrast to the single J model employed in the magnetic data fit. The calculated J values have been used to determine the energy level distribution of the Heisenberg magnetic states. The effective magnetic moment versus temperature plot resulting from this ab initio energy profile is in good agreement with the experimental curve and the fitting obtained with the simplified spin model, despite the differences between these two spin models. This study underlines the role that the theoretical evaluations of the coupling constants can play on the rationalisation of the magnetic properties of these complex polynuclear systems.     

On the Reaction Mechanism of the Complete Intermolecular O2 Transfer between Mononuclear Nickel and Manganese Complexes with Macrocyclic Ligands

The recently described intermolecular O₂ transfer between the side‐on Ni‐O₂ complex [(12‐TMC)Ni‐O₂]⁺ and the manganese complex [(14‐TMC)Mn]²⁺, where 12‐TMC and 14‐TMC are 12‐ and 14‐membered macrocyclic ligands, 12‐TMC=1,4,7,10‐tetramethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane and 14‐TMC=1,4,8,11‐tetramethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane, is studied by means of DFT methods. B3LYP calculations including long‐range corrections and solvent effects are performed to elucidate the mechanism. The potential energy surfaces (PESs) compatible with different electronic states of the reactants have been analyzed. The calculations confirm a two‐step reaction, with a first rate‐determining bimolecular step and predict the exothermic character of the global process. The relative stability of the products and the reverse barrier are in line with the fact that no reverse reaction is experimentally observed. An intermediate with a μ‐η¹:η¹‐O₂ coordination and two transition states are identified on the triplet PES, slightly below the corresponding stationary points of the quintet PES, suggesting an intersystem crossing before the first transition state. The calculated activation parameters and the relative energies of the two transition sates and the products are in very good agreement with the experimental data. The calculations suggest that a superoxide anion is transferred during the reaction.     

Electronic structure and relative stability of 1:1 Cu-O2 adducts from difference-dedicated configuration interaction calculations

A computational strategy to analyze Cu-O(2) adducts based on the use of difference-dedicated configuration interaction (DDCI) calculations is presented. The electronic structure, vertical gaps and nature of the metal-O(2) interaction, and the extension of the charge transfer between both fragments have been investigated. Relative stabilities between isomers are determined from triplet states CCSD(T) calculations. The key point of the here proposed strategy rests on the use of a rationally designed active space, containing only those orbitals, which optimize the interaction pathways between LCu and O(2) fragments. The procedure has been tested on a broad set of model and synthetic biomimetic systems, the results compared with previous theoretical evaluations and/or available experimental data. Our study indicates that this strategy can be considered as an alternative approach to multireference second-order perturbation theory methods to deal with this type of systems with remarkable biradical nature.     

Analysis of the magnetic coupling in nitroxide organic biradicals

The magnetic coupling in organic biradicals has been analyzed by means of ab initio wave function-based methods. Attention is focused on the coupling between the spin moments localized on the NO-groups in meta and para phenylene-bridged nitroxides, and bis(nitronyl) nitroxide and bis(imino) nitroxide biradicals. The leading mechanisms governing the coupling have been isolated by means of class-partitioned CI calculations. It was found that the mechanisms of the coupling in the para and meta phenylene-bridged nitroxides are similar to that found in transition metal complexes, while for the other biradicals the dominance of other mechanisms (like the spin polarization) imposes restrictions on the computational strategy to be followed to best estimate the coupling.