Ferromagnetic 2p-2p and 4f-2p Couplings in a Macrocycle from Two Biradicals and Two Gadolinium(III) Ions

A new ground triplet biradical 2′,4′,6′-triisopropylbiphenyl-3,5-diyl bis(tert-butyl nitroxide) (iPr₃BPBN) was prepared and characterized by means of room-temperature ESR spectroscopy displaying a zero-field splitting pattern together with a half-field signal. Complex formation with gadolinium(III) 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionate (hfac) afforded a macrocycle {Gd(hfac)₃(μ-iPr₃BPBN)}₂]. As the X-ray crystallographic analysis clarified, the biradical serves as a bridging ligand, giving a 16-membered ring, where each nitroxide radical oxygen atom is directly bonded to a Gd³⁺ ion. The magnetic study revealed that the iPr₃BPBN bridge behaved as a practically triplet biradical and that the Gd³⁺-radical magnetic coupling was weakly ferromagnetic. The exchange parameters were estimated as 2j_rad-rad/k_B > 300 K and 2J_Gd-rad/k_B = 1.2 K in the H = −2J S₁•S₂ convention. The DFT calculation based on the atomic coordinates clarified the ground triplet nature in metal-free iPr₃BPBN and the enhanced triplet character upon coordination. The calculation also suggests that ferromagnetic coupling would be favorable when the Gd-O-N-C(sp²) torsion comes around 100°. The present results are compatible with the proposed magneto-structure relationship on the nitroxide-Gd compounds.