Evaluating Electron-Transfer Reactivity of Complexes of Actinides in +2 and +3 Oxidation States by using EPR Spectroscopy.

The possibility that the relative reactivity of complexes of actinide metals in the +2 and +3 oxidation states could be investigated by examining reactions between AnIII and AnII species of Th and U with rare-earth metal reagents that provide EPR confirmation of electron transfer reactivity has been explored. Neither Cp''3 ThIII nor Cp''3 UIII will reduce Cp''3 LaIII or Cp'3 YIII (Cp'=C5 H4 SiMe3 , Cp''=C5 H3 (SiMe3 )2 ). However, both [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp''3 ThII ] and [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp''3 UII ] reduce Cp''3 LaIII and Cp'3 YIII to form [Cp''3 LaII ]1- and [Cp'3 YII ]1- , respectively, which were identified by EPR spectroscopy. The reverse reactions also occur which indicates that the reduction potentials are similar. [Cp''3 LaII ]1- reduces Cp'3 YIII and the reverse YII /LaIII combination also occurs. In both cases, the reactions generate EPR spectra indicative of multiple species in the mixtures of LaII and YII , which is consistent with ligand exchange and demonstrates that numerous heteroleptic complexes of these LnII ions exist.

A Room-Temperature Stable Y(II) Aryloxide: Using Steric Saturation to Kinetically Stabilize Y(II) Complexes.

The utility of the bulky aryloxide ligands 2,6-Ad2-4-Me-C6H2O- (Ad,Ad,MeArO-) and 2,6-Ad2-4-t-Bu-C6H2O- (Ad,Ad,t-BuArO-; Ad = 1-adamantyl) for stabilizing the Y(II) ion is reported and compared with the results with 2,6-t-Bu2-4-Me-C6H2O- (Ar'O-). In contrast to the reduction product obtained from reducing Y(OAr')3 with potassium graphite, which is only stable in solution for 60 s at room temperature, KC8 reduction of Y(OArAd,Ad,t-Bu)3 in THF in the presence of 2.2.2-cryptand (crypt) produces the room-temperature stable, crystallographically characterizable Y(II) aryloxide [K(crypt)][Y(OArAd,Ad,t-Bu)3]. The X-band EPR spectrum at 77 K shows an axial pattern with resonances centered at g⊥ = 1.97 and g∥ = 2.00 and hyperfine coupling constants of A⊥ = 156.5 G and A∥ = 147.8 G and at room temperature shows an isotropic pattern with giso = 1.98 and Aiso = 153.3 G, which is consistent with an S = 1/2 spin system with nuclear spin I = 1/2 for the 89Y isotope (100% natural abundance).

Rare-Earth Metal(II) Aryloxides: Structure, Synthesis, and EPR Spectroscopy of [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Sc(OC6 H2 tBu2 -2,6-Me-4)3 ].

The suitability of aryloxide ligands for stabilizing +2 oxidation states of Sc and Y has been examined and EPR evidence indicating the first O-donor complexes of ScII and YII has been obtained, as well as an X-ray crystal structure of a ScII aryloxide complex. The trivalent rare-earth metal aryloxide precursors, Ln(OAr')3 , 1-Ln (Ln=Sc, Y, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er; OAr'=OC6 H2 tBu2 -2,6-Me-4), were synthesized from the corresponding rare-earth metal trichlorides and LiOAr'⋅OEt2 . Reduction of THF solutions of 1-Ln with potassium graphite in the presence of 2.2.2-cryptand (crypt) yielded dark-colored solutions, 2-Ln, whose EPR spectra at 77 K are characteristic of the LnII ions: a two-line spectrum (g∥ =1.99, g□ =1.97, Aave =154 G) for 2-Y and an eight-line spectrum (gave =2.01 and Aave =291 G) for 2-Sc. Solutions of 2-Y decompose within one minute at room temperature, wheras 2-Sc persists up to 40 min at room temperature. 2-Sc was identified by X-ray crystallography as [K(crypt)][Sc(OAr')3 ], which has a trigonal-planar arrangement of oxygen-donor atoms around ScII . Analogous reductions of 1-Ln for Ln=Gd, Dy, Ho, and Er also gave dark solutions of limited stability. Theoretical analysis using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) along with complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) methods, and structural analysis with the Guzei ligand solid angle G-parameter method are presented.

A 9.2-GHz clock transition in a Lu(II) molecular spin qubit arising from a 3,467-MHz hyperfine interaction.

Spins in molecules are particularly attractive targets for next-generation quantum technologies, enabling chemically programmable qubits and potential for scale-up via self-assembly. Here we report the observation of one of the largest hyperfine interactions for a molecular system, Aiso = 3,467 ± 50 MHz, as well as a very large associated clock transition. This is achieved through chemical control of the degree of s-orbital mixing into the spin-bearing d orbital associated with a series of spin-½ La(II) and Lu(II) complexes. Increased s-orbital character reduces spin-orbit coupling and enhances the electron-nuclear Fermi contact interaction. Both outcomes are advantageous for quantum applications. The former reduces spin-lattice relaxation, and the latter maximizes the hyperfine interaction, which, in turn, generates a 9-GHz clock transition, leading to an increase in phase memory time from 1.0 ± 0.4 to 12 ± 1 µs for one of the Lu(II) complexes. These findings suggest strategies for the development of molecular quantum technologies, akin to trapped ion systems.