Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of the low-symmetry tetranuclear cubane-like nickel complex [Ni4(pypentO)(pym)(mu 3-OH)2(mu- Oac)2(NCS)2(OH2)

The tetranuclear [Ni4(pypentO)(pym)(mu 3-OH)2(mu-Oac)2(NCS)2(OH2)] cubane-like complex has been prepared, and its structure and magnetic properties have been studied (pypentO and pym are the deprotonated forms of 1,5-bis[(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]pentane-3-ol and 2-pyridylmethanol, respectively). The X-ray diffraction analysis of this novel nickel complex (C61H74N14O25.5S4Ni8, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 13.9375(14) A, b = 20.6604(18) A, c = 16.6684(19) A, beta = 110.619(12) degrees, Z = 2) showed a Ni4O4 cubane arrangement of four nickel atoms, four mu 3-O bridging ligands (one pypentO, one pym, and two OH-), two syn-syn bridging acetates, and three terminal monodentate ligands (two NCS- and one OH2). In this low-symmetry elongated cubane, the four Ni-Ni long distances (3.18 A) correspond to the faces of the cube including two mu 3-OR bridges, and the two Ni-Ni short distances (2.94 A) correspond to the faces including two mu 3-OR and one acetate bridges. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility was fitted with J1 = -3.09 cm-1, J2 = 15.0 cm-1, J3 = 6.72 cm-1, and g = 2.27. The differences in sign among the J1, J2, and J3 superexchange interactions is in good agreement with the different types of faces present in this Ni4O4 cubane core. The two faces of the cube, including two mu 3-OR bridges associated with one acetate bridge, exhibit ferromagnetic interactions, while the four faces which include only mu 3-OR bridges exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions. The very small zero field splitting may be attributed to the fact that the ground state is diamagnetic. The nature of the ground state is confirmed by the good simulation of the magnetization curves at 2 and 5 K (diagonalization of the full matrix taking into account all energy levels obtained with the parameter set resulting from the fit of the susceptibility curve). The large differences in J values resulting from small differences in Ni-O-Ni angles in this Ni4O4 core of very low symmetry reflect a quite strong magnetostructural correlation.     

Salicylaldoxime in manganese(III) carboxylate chemistry: Synthesis, structural characterization and physical studies of hexanuclear and polymeric complexes

The use of salicylaldehyde oxime (H₂salox) in manganese(III) carboxylate chemistry has yielded new members of the family of hexanuclear compounds presenting the [Mn₆(μ₃-O)₂(μ₂-OR)₂]¹²⁺ core, complexes [Mn^III₆(μ₃-O)₂(O₂CPh)₂(salox)₆(L₁)₂(L₂)₂] (L₁ = py, L₂ = H₂O (1); L₁ = Me₂CO, L₂ = H₂O (2); L₁ = L₂ = MeOH (3)). Addition of NaOMe to the acetonitrile reaction mixture, afforded the 1D complex [Mn^III₃Na(μ₃-O)(O₂CPh)₂(salox)₃(MeCN)]_n (4), whereas addition of NaClO₄ to the acetone reaction mixture afforded an analogous 1D complex [Mn^III₃Na(μ₃-O)(O₂CPh)₂(salox)₃(Me₂CO)]_n (5). The structures of 1–3 present the [Mn₆(μ₃-O)₂(μ₂-OR)₂]¹²⁺ core and can be described as two [Mn₃(μ₃-O)]⁷⁺ triangular subunits linked by two μ₂-oximato oxygen atoms of the salox²⁻ ligands, which show the less common μ₃-κ²O:κO′:κN coordination mode. The benzoato ligands are coordinated through the usual syn,syn-μ₂-κO:κO′ mode. The 1D polymeric structures of 4 and 5 consist of alternating [Mn₃(μ₃-O)]⁷⁺ subunits and Na⁺ atoms linked through two μ₃-κ²O:κO′:κN and one μ₄-κ²O:κ²O′:κN salox²⁻ ligands as well as one syn,anti-μ₂-κO:κO′ benzoato ligand. DC and AC magnetic susceptibility studies on 1 revealed the stabilization of an S = 4 ground state, and indications of single-molecule magnetism behavior, whereas the DC experimental data from polycrystalline sample of 5 are indicative of antiferromagnetic interactions within the [Mn₃] subunit. Solid state ¹H NMR data of 1 were used to probe the spin-lattice relaxation of the system.     

Novel rectangular [Fe4(mu4-OHO)(mu-OH)(2)](7+) versus "butterfly" [Fe4(mu3-O2](8+) core topology in the Fe(III)/RCO2(-)/phen reaction systems (R = Me,Ph; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline): preparation and properties of [Fe4(OHO)(OH)(2)(O2CMe)(4)(phen)(4)](ClO4)(3), [Fe4O2(O2CPh)(7)(phen)(2)](ClO4), and [Fe4O2(O2CPh)(8)(phen)(2)

The preparations, X-ray structures, and detailed physical characterizations are presented for three new tetranuclear Fe(III)/RCO(2)(-)/phen complexes, where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline: [Fe(4)(OHO)(OH)(2)(O(2)CMe)(4)(phen)(4)](ClO(4))(3).4.4MeCN.H(2)O (1.4.4MeCN.H(2)O); [Fe(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(7)(phen)(2)](ClO(4)).2MeCN (2.2MeCN); [Fe(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(8)(phen)(2)].2H(2)O (3.2H(2)O). Complex 1.4.4MeCN.H(2)O crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n, with a = 18.162(9) A, b = 39.016(19) A, c = 13.054(7) A, beta = 104.29(2) degrees, Z = 4, and V = 8963.7 A(3). Complex 2.2MeCN crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n, with a = 18.532(2) A, b = 35.908(3) A, c = 11.591(1) A, beta = 96.42(1) degrees, Z = 4, and V = 7665(1) A(3). Complex 3.2H(2)O crystallizes in space group I2/a, with a = 18.79(1) A, b = 22.80(1) A, c = 20.74(1) A, beta = 113.21(2) degrees, Z = 4, and V = 8166(1) A(3). The cation of 1 contains the novel [Fe(4)(mu(4)-OHO)(mu-OH)(2)](7+) core. The core structure of 2 and 3 consists of a tetranuclear bis(mu(3)-O) cluster disposed in a "butterfly" arrangement. Magnetic susceptibility data were collected on 1-3 in the 2-300 K range. For the rectangular complex 1, fitting the data to the appropriate theoretical chi(M) vs T expression gave J(1) = -75.4 cm(-1), J(2) = -21.4 cm(-1), and g = 2.0(1), where J(1) and J(2) refer to the Fe(III)O(O(2)CMe)(2)Fe(III) and Fe(III)(OH)Fe(III) pairwise exchange interactions, respectively. The S = 0 ground state of 1 was confirmed by 2 K magnetization data. The data for 2 and 3 reveal a diamagnetic ground state with antiferromagnetic exchange interactions among the four high-spin Fe(III) ions. The exchange coupling constant J(bb) ("body-body" interaction) is indeterminate due to prevailing spin frustration, but the "wing-body" antiferromagnetic interaction (J(wb)) was evaluated to be -77.6 and -65.7 cm(-1) for 2 and 3, respectively, using the appropriate spin Hamiltonian approach. M?ssbauer spectra of 1-3 are consistent with high-spin Fe(III) ions. The data indicated asymmetry of the Fe(4) core of 1 at 80 K, which is not detected at room temperature due to thermal motion of the core. The spectra of 2 and 3 analyze as two quadrupole-split doublets which were assigned to the body and wing-tip pairs of metal ions. (1)H NMR spectra are reported for 1-3 with assignment of the main resonances.     

A range of spin-crossover temperature T1/2>300 K results from out-of-sphere anion exchange in a series of ferrous materials based on the 4-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2-(2-imidazolylmethyl)imidazole (trim) ligand, [Fe(trim)2]X2 (X=F, Cl, Br, I): comparison of experimental results with those derived from density functional theory calculations

The synthesis and characterization of [FeII(trim)2]Cl2 (2), [FeII(trim)2]Br2MeOH (3), and [FeII(trim)2]I2MeOH (4), including the X-ray crystal structure determinations of 2 (50 and 293 K) and 4 (293 K), have been performed and their properties have been examined. In agreement with the magnetic susceptibility results, the M?ssbauer data show the presence of high-spin (HS) to low-spin (LS) crossover with a range of T1/2 larger than 300 K (from approximately 20 K for [FeII(trim)2]F2 (1) to approximately 380 K for 4). All complexes in this series include the same [Fe(trim)2]2+ complex cation: the ligand field comprises a constant contribution from the trim ligands and a variable one originating from the out-of-sphere anions, which is transmitted to the metal center by the connecting imidazole rings and hydrogen bonds. The impressive variation in the intrinsic characteristics of the spin-crossover (SCO) phenomenon in this series is then interpreted as an inductive effect of the anions transmitted to the nitrogen donors through the hydrogen bonds. Based on this qualitative analysis, an increased inductive effect of the out-of-sphere anion corresponds to a decreased SCO temperature T1/2, in agreement with the experimental results. Electronic structure calculations with periodic boundary conditions have been performed that show the importance of intermolecular effects in tuning the ligand field, and thus in determining the transition temperature. Starting with the geometries obtained from the X-ray studies, the [FeII(trim)2]X2 complex molecules 1-4 have been investigated both for the single molecules and the crystal lattices with the local density approximation of density functional theory. The bulk geometries of the complex cations deduced from the X-ray studies and those calculated are in fair agreement for both approaches. However, the trend observed for the transition temperatures of 1-4 disagrees with the trend for the spin-state splittings ES (difference EHS-ELS between the energy of the HS and LS isomers) calculated for the isolated molecules, whereas it agrees with the trend for ES calculated with periodic boundary conditions. The latter calculations predict the strongest stabilization of the HS state for the fluoride complex, which actually is essentially HS above T=50 K, while the most pronounced stabilization of the LS state is predicted for 4, in line with the experimental results.     

Monomeric iron(II) hydroxo and iron(III) dihydroxo complexes stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding

Using the multidentate ligand bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)-3-methylthiopropanol (L), the mononuclear iron(II) hydroxo and iron(III) dihydroxo complexes [Fe(II)(L)2(OH)](BF4) (1) and [Fe(III)(L)2(OH)2](BF4) (2) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. The X-ray data suggest that the remarkable stability of the Fe-OH bond(s) in both compounds results from intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions between the hydroxo ligand(s) and the tertiary hydroxyl of the L ligands, which prevent further intermolecular reactions.     

A variety of spin-crossover behaviors depending on the counter anion: two-dimensional complexes constructed by NH...Cl- hydrogen bonds, [FeIIH3LMe]Cl.X (X = PF6 -, AsF6 -, SbF6 -, CF3SO3 -; H3L(Me) = Tris[2-{[(2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene]amino}ethyl]amine)

A family of spin-crossover (SC) complexes, [Fe(II)H(3)L(Me)]Cl.X (X(-) = PF(6) (-), AsF(6) (-), SbF(6) (-), CF(3)SO(3) (-)), 1-4, has been synthesized, in which H(3)L(Me) denotes the hexadentate N(6) tripod-like ligand tris[2-{[(2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene]amino}ethyl]amine, containing three imidazole groups, with a view to establishing the effect of the counter anion on the SC behavior. These complexes have been found to crystallize in the same monoclinic crystal system with similar cell dimensions. The general crystal structure consists of a two-dimensional (2D) extended network constructed by NH...Cl- hydrogen bonds between Cl- and the imidazole NH groups of three neighboring [Fe(II)H(3)L(Me)]2+ ions, while the anion X exists as an isolated counter anion and occupies the space between the 2D sheets. Magnetic susceptibilities and M?ssbauer spectra have revealed a variety of SC behaviors depending on the counter anion, including a one-step HS<==>(HS + LS)/2 (1, X = PF(6) (-)), a two-step HS<==>(HS + LS)/2<==>LS with a slow thermal relaxation (2, X = AsF(6) (-)), a gradual one-step HS<==>LS (3, X = SbF(6) (-)), and a steep one-step HS<==>LS with hysteresis (4, X = CF(3)SO(3) (-)). The complexes assume the space group P2(1)/n in the HS state, P2(1) in the HS + LS state, and P2(1)/n in the LS state. The Fe-N bond lengths and the N-Fe-N bond angles are indicative of the HS, HS + LS, and LS states. The molecular volumes, V, of the counter anions have been evaluated by quantum-chemical calculations as follows: 53.4 A(3) (BF(4) (-)), 54.4 A(3) (ClO(4) (-)), 73.0 A(3) (PF(6) (-)), 78.5 A(3) (AsF(6) (-)), 88.7 A(3) (SbF(6) (-)), and 86.9 A(3) (CF(3)SO(3) (-)). The size and shape of the counter anion affects the flexible 2D network structure constructed by the hydrogen bonds, leading to modifications of the SC behavior. These estimated relative sizes of the counter anions correlate well with the observed SC behaviors.     

Structure and properties of dinuclear manganese(III) complexes with pentaanionic pentadentate ligands including alkoxo, amido, and phenoxo donors

Doubly bridged mu-alkoxo-mu-X (X = pyrazolato or acetato) dinuclear MnIII complexes of 2-hydroxy-N-{2-hydroxy-3-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]propyl}benzamide) (H5L1) and 2-hydroxy-N-{2-hydroxy-4-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]butyl}benzamide (H5L2), [Mn2(L)(pz)(MeOH)4].xMeOH (1, L = L1, x = 0.5; 2, L = L2, x = 0; Hpz = pyrazole) and [Mn2(L1)(OAc)(MeOH)4] (3), have been prepared, and their structure and magnetic properties have been studied. The X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 (C24.5H34Mn2N4O9.5, triclinic, P, a = 12.2050(7) A, b = 12.7360(8) A, c = 19.2780(10) A, alpha = 99.735(5) degrees , beta = 96.003(4) degrees , gamma = 101.221(5) degrees , V = 2867.6(3) A3, Z = 4), 2 (C25H34Mn2N4O9, triclinic, P, a = 9.4560(5) A, b = 11.0112(5) A, c = 13.8831(6) A, alpha = 90.821(4) degrees , beta = 92.597(4) degrees , gamma = 93.403(4) degrees , V = 1441.29(12) A3, Z = 2), and 3 (C23H32Mn2N2O11, triclinic, P, a = 10.511(5) A, b = 11.713(5) A, c = 13.135(5) A, alpha = 64.401(5) degrees , beta = 74.000(5) degrees , gamma = 66.774(5) degrees , V = 1329.3(10) A3, Z = 2) revealed that all complexes consist of dinuclear units which are further extended into 1D (1 and 3) and 2D (2) supramolecular networks via hydrogen-bonding interactions. Magnetic susceptibility data evidence antiferromagnetic interactions for all three complexes: J = -3.6 cm-1, D approximately 0 cm-1, g = 1.93 (1); J = -2.7 cm-1, D = 0.8 cm-1, g = 1.93 (2); J = -4.9 cm-1, D = 3.8 cm-1, g = 1.95 (3).     

High-spin to low-spin relaxation kinetics in the [Fe(TRIM)2]Cl2 complex

A quasi-quantitative photo-induced low-spin (LS)-->high-spin (HS) conversion of FeII ions has been observed in the [Fe(TRIM)2]Cl2 complex by irradiating the sample with blue light (488 nm) at 10 K. The time dependence of the HS-->LS relaxation has been studied between 10 K and 44 K by means of magnetic susceptibility measurements. These relaxation curves could be satisfactorily fitted by mono-exponential decays including tunnelling effect except for temperatures below 30 K. The introduction of a distribution of vibrational frequencies into this model improved significantly the fits in the low-temperature range and gave a good agreement with the experimental data in the whole temperature range suggesting a multi-rate relaxation process in this complex.