Cyclic [Cu-biRadical]2 Secondary Building Unit in 2p-3d and 2p-3d-4f Complexes: Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties.

Employing the new nitronyl nitroxide biradical ligand biNIT-3Py-5-Ph (2-(5-phenyl-3-pyridyl)-bis(4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide)), a 16-spin Cu-radical complex, [Cu8(biNIT-3Py-5-Ph)4(hfac)16] 1, and three 2p-3d-4f chain complexes, {[Ln(hfac)3][Cu(hfac)2]2(biNIT-3Py-5-Ph)2}n (LnⅢ= Gd 2, Tb 3, Dy 4; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate), have been prepared and characterized. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed in all derivatives a common cyclic [Cu-biNIT]2 secondary building unit in which two bi-NIT-3Py-5-Ph biradical ligands and two CuII ions are associated via the pyridine N atoms and NO units. For complex 1, two such units assemble with four additional CuII ions to form a discrete complex involving 16 S = 1/2 spin centers. For complexes 2-4, the [Cu-biNIT]2 units are linked by LnIII ions via NO groups in a 1D coordination polymer. Magnetic studies show that the coordination of the aminoxyl groups with Cu or Ln ions results in behaviors combining ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. No slow magnetic relaxation behavior was observed for Tb and Dy derivatives.

Slow magnetic relaxation in a Dy3 triangle and a bistriangular Dy6 cluster.

Two lanthanide single-molecule magnets (SMMs) [Dy3(µ3-OH)(HL-1)3(H2O)3](NO3)2·3H3O (1, H3L-1 = (E)-3-(((8-hydroxyquinolin-2-yl)methylene)amino)propane-1,2-diol) and [Dy6(µ3-OH)4(H2L-2)4(HL-2)2(L-2)2] (2, H3L-2 = (E)-2-hydroxy-N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide) were synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Complex 1 contains a triangular Dy3 core in which the three Dy3+ ions share a µ3-OH- anion and the deprotonated ligands of (HL-1)2- serve both capping and bridging functions, while 2 displays a centrosymmetric hexanuclear DyIII structure with two similar Dy3 triangular cores ligated by two fully deprotonated (L-2)3- ligands, each of which shares two µ3-OH- anions. All the DyIII ions are eight-coordinated with quasi D2d or C2v symmetry. Magnetic studies reveal that 1 exhibited two-step magnetic relaxation under an applied dc field of 800 Oe, with effective energy barriers of 40.1 and 31.0 K for the slow relaxation (SR) and fast relaxation regimes (FR), respectively. Meanwhile, 2 only showed a tail of slow magnetic relaxation at above 2 K. Ab initio calculations have been carried out to show the nature of their different magnetic properties.

Supramolecular heptanuclear Ln-Cu complexes involving nitronyl nitroxide biradicals: structure and magnetic behavior.

Four novel heptanuclear Ln-Cu complexes with the formula [Ln2Cu(hfac)8(NITPhTzbis)2][LnCu(hfac)5(NITPhTzbis)]2 (LnCu = YCu 1, TbCu 2, DyCu 3 and HoCu 4; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) were successfully constructed by employing the triazole functionalized nitronyl nitroxide biradical ligand NITPh-Tzbis (NITPh-Tzbis = 5-(1,2,4-triazolyl)-1,3-bis(1'-oxyl-3'-oxido-4',4',5',5'-tetramethyl-4,5-hydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzene). These hetero-tri-spin complexes are composed of two biradical-bridged dinuclear [(LnCu(hfac)5(NITPhTzbis)] units and one trinuclear [Ln2Cu(hfac)8(NITPhTzbis)2] unit which form a heptanuclear supramolecular structure through π-π interactions. Magnetic susceptibility investigations indicate that ferromagnetic exchange interactions dominate at low temperature for this supramolecular system which can be attributed to the Ln-nitroxide exchange and intramolecular NIT⋯NIT coupling mediated by the m-phenylene moiety. The DyCu derivative was found to exhibit a slow magnetic relaxation behavior.

Improved single-chain-magnet behavior in a biradical-based nitronyl nitroxide-Cu-Dy chain.

A biradical with ferromagnetic intramolecular interaction was found to improve the SCM behavior of a nitronyl nitroxide-Cu-Dy chain, resulting in an energy barrier for magnetization reversal of 40 K.

Tuning Magnetic Relaxation in a Tb-Nitronyl Nitroxide Complex by Using Cocrystalline Paramagnetic Complex.

New 2p-4f and 2p-3d-4f compounds [Tb(hfac)3(NIT-PhNO2)2]· 0.5C7H16 (1) and [Ln(hfac)3(NIT-PhNO2)2]2[Cu(hfac)2(NIT-PhNO2)2] (Ln(III) = Gd 2, Tb 3; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NIT-PhNO2 = 2-(p-nitrophenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide) have been obtained. Complex 1 consists of mononuclear trispin [Tb(hfac)3(NIT-PhNO2)2] units in which two radical ligands are ligated to the Tb(III) ion as monodentate ligands through the NO groups, while complexes 2 and 3 contain two kinds of trispin moieties, namely, [Ln(hfac)3(NIT-PhNO2)2] and [Cu(hfac)2(NIT-PhNO2)2]. In the [Cu(hfac)2(NIT-PhNO2)2] moiety, the radicals are bonded to the copper(II) ion in the axial positions via the nitroxides. For three compounds, 1D supramolecular chains are formed via the π-π stacking interactions involving the radical ligands. Magnetic investigations show that both Tb complexes exhibit slow relaxation of magnetization at low temperature; strikingly, complex 3 displays a higher energy barrier than that of 1. It represents the first example to use the paramagnetic complex to tune magnetic relaxation of 4f-based compounds.

Construction of nitronyl nitroxide-based 3d-4f clusters: structure and magnetism.

Three unprecedented nitronyl nitroxide radical-bridged 3d-4f clusters, [Ln2 Cu2 (hfac)10 (NIT-3py)2 (H2 O)2 ](Ln(III) =Y, Gd, Dy), have been obtained from the self-assembly of Ln(hfac)3 , Cu(hfac)2 , and the radical ligand. The Dy complex shows a slow relaxation of magnetization, representing the first nitronyl nitroxide radical-based 3d-4f cluster with single-molecule magnet behavior.

Three-dimensional frameworks based on dodecanuclear Dy-hydroxo wheel cluster with slow relaxation of magnetization.

Two new heterometallic coordination polymers, [Na4Ln12(stp)8(OH)16(H2O)12]·10H2O [Ln = Dy (1) and Ho (2)], have been prepared from monosodium 2-sulfoterephthalate (NaH2stp), dysprosium acetate, or holmium acetate. They are isostructural, possessing a [Ln12(µ3-OH)16](20+) wheel-cluster core based on four vertex-sharing cubane-like [Ln4(µ3-OH)4](8+) units. The Ln12 cores are linked by stp ligands into a three-dimensional (3D) architecture. Magnetic studies indicate that complex 1 exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization, and it can be regarded as the first 3D coordination assembly of a Dy12 cluster single-molecule magnet.

Unprecedented nitronyl nitroxide bridged 3d-4f complexes: structure and magnetic properties.

Two novel 2p-3d-4f compounds, {Ln(hfac)3[Cu(hfac)2]3(NITPhPyrim)2} [Ln = Gd (1), Dy (2)], have been obtained by reacting phenyl pyrimidyl nitronyl nitroxide with Cu(hfac)2 and Ln(hfac)3. These two compounds are the first examples of two-dimensional 3d-4f complexes bridged by nitronyl nitroxide radicals. Overall ferromagnetic behaviors were observed in both compounds.

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic and luminescence properties of a new Dy(III)-based single-ion magnet.

Three new Ln(III) complexes based on 2,2'-bipyridine [Ln(hfac)3(bpy)] (Ln = Dy (1), Tb (2), or Ho (3); hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; and bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Single-crystal X-ray analysis shows that all these complexes contain one [Ln(hfac)3(bpy)] unit in which a center Ln(III) ion is surrounded with a slightly distorted square-antiprismatic LnO6N2 coordination sphere formed by three bischelate hfac anions and one bpy ligand. Both static and dynamic magnetic properties were studied for complex 1, which is proved to be a new single-ion magnet. The luminescence characterizations of complexes 1 and 2 are also studied in this paper.

Modulating spin dynamics of cyclic LnIII-radical complexes (LnIII = Tb, Dy) by using phenyltrifluoroacetylacetonate coligand.

Three novel ring-like compounds formulated as [Ln(Phtfac)(3)(NITpPy)](2) (Ln(III) = Gd 1, Tb 2, Dy 3; HPhtfac = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione; NITpPy = 2-(4-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolyl-1-oxyl-3-oxide) were synthesized and structurally and magnetically characterized. Three compounds possess cyclic dimer structure in which each pyridine substituted radical links two different metal ions through the oxygen of nitroxide group and the pyridine nitrogen. DC magnetic studies show the Ln(III) ion interacts ferromagnetically with the directly bonding nitronyl nitroxide. Both Tb(III) and Dy(III) clusters show frequency-dependent ac magnetic susceptibilities, indicating single-molecule magnet behavior. It is demonstrated that the ß-diketonate coligand may play an important role in determining the magnetic relaxation for the lanthanide-radical system.

Self-assembly, crystal structures, and properties of metal-2-sulfoterephthalate frameworks based on [M4(µ3-OH)2]6+ clusters (M = Co, Mn, Zn and Cd).

Hydro- and solvo-thermal reactions of d-block metal ions (Mn(2+), Co(2+), Zn(2+) and Cd(2+)) with monosodium 2-sulfoterephthalate (NaH(2)stp) form six 3D coordination polymers featuring cluster core [M(4)(µ(3)-OH)(2)](6+) in common: [M(2)(µ(3)-OH)(stp)(H(2)O)] (M = Co (1), Mn (2) and Zn (3)), [Zn(2)(µ(3)-OH)(stp)(H(2)O)(2)] (4), [Zn(4)(µ(3)-OH)(2)(stp)(2)(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)]·3.5H(2)O (5) and [Cd(2)(µ(3)-OH)(stp) (bpp)(2)]·H(2)O (6) (stp = 2-sulfoterephthalate, bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine and bpp = 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane). All these coordination polymers were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and elemental analysis. Complexes 1-3 are isostructural coordination polymers with 3D frameworks based on the chair-like [Zn(4)(µ(3)-OH)(2)](6+) core and the quintuple helixes. In complex 4, there exist double helixes in the 3D framework based on the chair-like cluster cores. Complex 5 possesses a 2-fold interpenetration structure constructed from boat-like cluster core and the bridging ligands stp and bpy. For complex 6, the chair-like cluster cores and stp ligands form a 2D (4,4) network which is further pillared by bpp linkers to a 3D architecture. Magnetic studies indicate that complex 1 exhibits magnetic ordering below 4.9 K with spin canting, and complex 2 shows weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the Mn(II) ions with g = 2.02, J(wb) = -2.88 cm(-1), J(bb) = -0.37 cm(-1). The fluorescence studies show that the emissions of complexes 3-6 are attributed to the ligand π-π* transition.

Ligand field-tuned single-molecule magnet behaviour of 2p-4f complexes.

Three new 2p-4f complexes of [Ln(acac)(3)(NIT-2Py)]·0.5NIT-2Py [Ln(III) = Gd(1), Dy(2)] and [Dy(tfa)(3)(NIT-2Py)]·0.5C(7)H(16) (3) (NIT-2Py = 2-(2'-pyridyl)- 4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide; acac = acetylacetonate and tfa = trifluoroacetylacetonate) have been synthesized, and structurally and magnetically characterized. The X-ray structural analysis exhibits that the three complexes show similar mononuclear structures, in which NIT-2Py radical chelates the Ln(III) ion through the oxygen atom of the NO group and the nitrogen atom from the pyridine ring. The static magnetic measurements on the three complexes exhibit ferromagnetic coupling between the lanthanide ion and the radical. Compared to the silence of the out-of-phase ac susceptibility of complex 3, the magnetic relaxation behavior of complex 2 is observed, suggesting single-molecule magnet behavior. The different magnetic relaxation behaviours of 2 and 3 are due to their slightly different crystal structure around the Dy(III) ions. It was demonstrated that the spin dynamic can be modified by the careful adjustment of the ligand field around the metal center.

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of a novel family of heterometallic nonanuclear Na(I)2Mn(III)6Ln(III) (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy) complexes.

The structures and magnetic properties of four isomorphous nonanuclear heterometallic complexes [Na(2){Mn(3)(III)(µ(3)-O(2-))}(2)Ln(III)(hmmp)(6)(O(2)CPh)(4)(N(3))(2)]OH·0.5 CH(3)CN·1.5H(2)O are reported, where Ln(III) = Eu (1), Gd (2), Tb (3) and Dy (4), H(2)hmmp = 2-[(2-hydroxyethylimino)methyl]-6-methoxyphenol. Complexes 1-4 were prepared by the reactions of hmmpH(2) with a manganese salt and the respective lanthanide salt together with NaO(2)CPh and NaN(3). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that the six Mn(III) and one Ln(III) metal topology in the aggregate can be described as a bitetrahedron. The two peripheral [Mn(III)(3)(µ(3)-O(2-))](7+) triangles are each bonded to a central Ln(III) ion with rare distorted octahedral geometry. The magnetic properties of all the complexes were investigated using variable temperature magnetic susceptibility and both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions exist in the [Mn(III)(3)(µ(3)-O(2-))](7+) triangle. Weak ferromagnetic exchange between the Ln(III) and Mn(III) ions has been established for the corresponding Gd derivative. The Gd, Tb and Dy complexes show no evidence of slow relaxation behaviour above 2.0 K.

Self-assembly and characterization of copper 3,4-pyridinedicarboxylate complexes based on a variety of polynuclear hydroxo clusters.

Self-assembly of copper(ii) ion, 3,4-pyridinedicarboxylate (PDC), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) under basic conditions at 100 °C affords four PDC linked copper(ii) complexes, [Cu(4)(µ(2)-OH)(3)(µ(3)-OH)(PDC)(phen)(4)](n)·n(PDC)·11.5 nH2O (1), [Cu(4)(µ(2)-OH)(2)(µ(3)-OH)(2)(PDC)(phen)(4)](n)·n(PDC)· 11.5 nH(2)O (2), [Cu(8)(µ(2)-OH)(2)(µ(3)-OH)(6)(PDC)(2)(phen)(8)]·2(PDC)·23 H(2)O (3), and [Cu(3.5)(µ(2)-OH)(3) (PDC)(2)(phen)](n) (4). 1-4 are copper hydroxo complexes, and 1, 2 and 3 co-crystallized from the one-pot reaction. X-ray single crystal diffraction analyses indicate that complexes 1 and 2 are linkage isomers and contain tetranuclear copper cluster cores with different geometry, and that PDC links the cluster core to form a one-dimensional chain. Complex 3 is a discrete step-like octanuclear copper hydroxo cluster complex. The involvement of hydroxo and phen in the coordination makes some coordination sites of PDC idle, which leads to rich hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions in complexes 1, 2 and 3. Complex 4 contains two types of copper hydroxo cluster cores: chair-like tetranuclear and linear trinuclear units, and the cluster cores are linked by PDC to a double-layer metal-organic framework. Magnetic properties of 1, 3 and 4 were investigated. The results reveal that complexes 3 and 4 exhibit strong antiferromagnetic interactions whereas ferromagnetic coupling is predominant for complex 1. The magnetic properties are analyzed in connection with their structures.

Slow magnetic relaxation in novel Dy4 and Dy8 compounds.

Two novel dysprosium(III) clusters have been prepared and structurally characterized. One has a tetranuclear core with a rare zigzag arrangement, and the other is an unprecedented octanuclear cluster with six triangular Dy(3) units sharing vertices. Both dysprosium(III) clusters possess frequency-dependent on alternating-current magnetic susceptibilities, indicating possible single-molecule magnet behavior.

Pyrazine-bridged Dy2 single-molecule magnet with a large anisotropic barrier.

Utilization of the strong electron-withdrawing ligand, hfac, leads to a novel dinuclear dysprosium single-molecule magnet featuring a pyrazine bridge with a large anisotropic barrier.

Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of a novel family of penta-manganese complexes derived from an assembly system containing polydentate hydroxy-rich Schiff-base ligands.

The syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetochemical characterization are reported of a novel family of four pentanuclear manganese complexes, namely, [Mn(III)(5)(mu(3)-O)(2)(L(1))(4)(O(2)CMe)(3)(CH(3)OH)].1.5CH(3)OH.2.5H(2)O (1), [Mn(III)(5)(mu(3)-O)(2)(L(1))(4)(O(2)CPh)(3)(CH(3)OH)].2CH(3)OH.2.25CH(3)CN.1.5H(2)O (), [Mn(II)Mn(III)(4)(HL(2))(2)(L(2))(2)(O(2)C Me)(4))].CH(3)OH.H(2)O (3) and [Mn(II)Mn(III)(4)(HL(2))(2)(L(2))(2)(O(2)CPh)(4))].1.5H(2)O (4), where H(2)L(1) is 3,5-dibromosalicylidene-2-ethanolamine and H(3)L(2) is 3-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dibromobenzylideneamino)propane-1,2-diol. All the complexes can be obtained from a reaction system containing the trinuclear species [Mn(3)O(O(2)CR)(6)(Py)(3)](0/+) (R = Me or Ph) and H(2)L(1) or H(3)L(2) with similar procedures. Both cores in complexes 1 and 2 feature two mu(3)-O(2-) atoms, four L(1)(2-) ligands together with three RCO(2)(-) groups (R = Me or Ph) bridging five Mn(III) atoms to form an incomplete cubane extended at one face by an incomplete adamantane unit, which is an unprecedented structural type in Mn chemistry. Complexes 3 and 4 both have a rare [Mn(II)Mn(III)(4)(mu(2)-O(alkoxide))(6)](8+) core, which can be regarded as two {Mn(II)Mn(III)(2)(mu(2)-O(alkoxide))(3)} scalene triangles, sharing the Mn(II) vertex. The dc magnetic susceptibility studies in the 2-300 K range for complexes 1-4 reveal the presence of overall antiferromagnetic intracluster interactions. A simple 3-J model was found to be adequate to describe the variable-temperature dc susceptibility data of complexes 1-4. The results have allowed us to compare the obtained magnetic exchange with magneto-structural correlations found previously for manganese-oxo clusters.

Slow magnetic relaxation in lanthanide complexes with chelating nitronyl nitroxide radical.

Two rare-earth radical complexes [Ln(hfac)(3)NIT-2Py].0.5C(7)H(16) [Ln = Tb (1), Dy (2)] have been synthesized and characterized structurally as well as magnetically. Both complexes are isomorphous, in which the NIT-2Py radical is coordinated to the Ln(III) ion in a chelating manner. Magnetic studies reveal that complex 1 shows a frequency-dependent, alternating-current magnetic susceptibility typical of a single-molecule magnet, whereas slow magnetic relaxation is observed in 2 under an applied direct-current field.

A monometallic tri-spin single-molecule magnet based on rare earth radicals.

A mononuclear tri-spin single-molecule magnet based on the rare earth radical [Tb(hfac)3(NITPhOEt)2] (NITPhOEt = 4'-ethoxy-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide) has been synthesized, structurally characterized and the alternating current signals show a slow relaxation of magnetization and frequency-dependent signals.

Four new lanthanide-nitronyl nitroxide (Ln(III) = Pr(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Tm(III)) complexes and a Tb(III) complex exhibiting single-molecule magnet behavior.

Five new complexes based on rare-earth-radical [Ln(hfac)(3)(NIT-5-Br-3py)](2) (Ln = Pr (1), Sm (2), Eu (3), Tb (4), Tm (5); hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NIT-5-Br-3py = 2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-3-oxylimidazoline-1-oxide)-5-bromo-3-pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystal diffraction. The single-crystal structures show that these complexes have similar structures, in which a NIT-5-Br-3py molecule acts as a bridging ligand linking two Ln(III) ions through the oxygen atom of the N-O group and nitrogen atom from the pyridine ring to form a four-spin system. Both static and dynamic magnetic properties were measured for complex 4, which exhibits single-molecule magnetism behavior.