Strategic synthesis of [Cu2], [Cu4] and [Cu5] complexes: inhibition and triggering of ligand arm hydrolysis and self-aggregation by chosen ancillary bridges

The Schiff base ligand HL1 ({2,6-bis(allylimino)methyl}-4-methylphenol) having no coordinating donor arm has been examined for its reaction medium and ancillary bridge dependent reactivity for hierarchical family of CuII complexes. The ligand showed unique reactivity pattern toward CuII in solution. The bridging nature of in situ generated HO− ions in absence and presence of externally added carboxylates (RCOO−; R= CF3, C6H5 and CH3) has been utilized to produce complexes {[Cu2(µ–L2)2(H2O)]2[Cu2(µ–L2)2(H2O)2](ClO4)6} (1) (HL2 = 3-{(allylimino)methyl}-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde), [Cu4(µ4–O)(µ–L1)2(µ1,3–O2CCF3)4] (2), [Cu4(µ4–O)(µ–L1)2(µ1,3–O2CC6H5)4]∙H2O (3), [Cu5(µ3–OH)2(µ–L1)2(µ1,3–OAc)2(OAc)2(H2O)4][Cu5(µ3–OH)2(µ–L1)2(µ1,3–OAc)2(OAc)3(H2O)](ClO4)3∙2C2H5OH (4). Absence of carboxylate anions did not yield HO− ions in situ and triggered single ligand arm hydrolysis. The formation of tetra- and pentanuclear aggregates as well as ligand hydrolyzed dinulcear products has been rationalized to identify the possible roles of carboxylate anions in solution. Detailed characterization of the complexes in the solid state and in solution have been carried out using spectroscopic measurements, X-ray crystallography, variable temperature magnetic measurements and functional behavior. In MeOH solutions at 298 K, the complexes 1-4 showed catalytic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol (3,5-DTBCH2) saturated with O2 of air

Chemical and in silico tuning of the magnetisation reversal barrier in pentagonal bipyramidal Dy(III) single-ion magnets

Two new air-stable axial Dy(III) Single-Ion Magnets, [Dy(H2O)5(HMPA)2]Cl3·HMPA·H2O (1) and [Dy(H2O)5(HMPA)2]I3 ·2HMPA (2) (HMPA = hexamethylphosphoramide), exhibit magnetic hysteresis which remains open up to 9 K for 1@Y and 10 K for 2@Y, respectively. Ab initio calculations, using step-by-step elimination of fragments to generate a series of model complexes, reveal that the secondary coordination sphere plays a key role in controlling the magnetisation reversal barrier and predict that the removal of outer-sphere molecules and anions will enhance the barrier further

Engineering macrocyclic high performance pentagonal bipyramidal Dy(iii) single-ion magnets

We generate a new air-stable pseudo-D5h Dy(III) Single-Molecule Magnet (Ueff = 1108 K, TB = 14 K) by combining a weak equatorial ligand field from a macrocyclic LN5 ligand with a strong axial ligand field. Based on our synthetic blueprint, we use ab initio calculations to show the vast scope for macrocyclic engineering of magnetic anisotropy

Insight into D6h symmetry: targeting strong axiality in stable dysprosium(III) hexagonal bipyramidal single-ion magnets

Following a novel synthetic strategy where the strong uniaxial ligand field generated by the Ph3SiO− (Ph3SiO−=anion of triphenylsilanol) and the 2,4‐di‐tBu‐PhO− (2,4‐di‐tBu‐PhO−=anion of 2,4‐di‐tertbutylphenol) ligands combined with the weak equatorial field of the ligand LN6, leads to [DyIII(LN6)(2,4‐di‐tBu‐PhO)2](PF6) (1), [DyIII(LN6)(Ph3SiO)2](PF6) (2) and [DyIII(LN6)(Ph3SiO)2](BPh4) (3) hexagonal bipyramidal dysprosium(III) single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) with high anisotropy barriers of Ueff=973 K for 1, Ueff=1080 K for 2 and Ueff=1124 K for 3 under zero applied dc field. Ab initio calculations predict that the dominant magnetization reversal barrier of these complexes expands up to the 3rd Kramers doublet, thus revealing for the first time the exceptional uniaxial magnetic anisotropy that even the six equatorial donor atoms fail to negate, opening up the possibility to other higher‐order symmetry SMMs

Insight into D6h symmetry: targeting strong axiality in stable dysprosium(III) hexagonal bipyramidal single-ion magnets

Following a novel synthetic strategy where the strong uniaxial ligand field generated by the Ph3SiO− (Ph3SiO−=anion of triphenylsilanol) and the 2,4‐di‐tBu‐PhO− (2,4‐di‐tBu‐PhO−=anion of 2,4‐di‐tertbutylphenol) ligands combined with the weak equatorial field of the ligand LN6, leads to [DyIII(LN6)(2,4‐di‐tBu‐PhO)2](PF6) (1), [DyIII(LN6)(Ph3SiO)2](PF6) (2) and [DyIII(LN6)(Ph3SiO)2](BPh4) (3) hexagonal bipyramidal dysprosium(III) single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) with high anisotropy barriers of Ueff=973 K for 1, Ueff=1080 K for 2 and Ueff=1124 K for 3 under zero applied dc field. Ab initio calculations predict that the dominant magnetization reversal barrier of these complexes expands up to the 3rd Kramers doublet, thus revealing for the first time the exceptional uniaxial magnetic anisotropy that even the six equatorial donor atoms fail to negate, opening up the possibility to other higher‐order symmetry SMMs

Reaction of Ph2C(X)(CO2H) (X = OH, NH2) with [VO(OR)3] (R = Et, nPr): Structure, magnetic susceptibility and ROP capability

Reaction of [VO(OR)3] (R = Et, nPr) with 2,2′-diphenylglycine afforded the alkoxide-bridged dimers {[VO(OR)(μ-OR)][Ph2C(NH2)(CO2)]}2, whereas use of benzilic acid, in the presence of alkali metals, afforded 16-membered metallocycles {V8(O)4M(OR)8[Ph2C(OH)(CO2)]12} (M = <1 Na, K). For the ring systems, magnetic susceptibility data is consistent with mixed-valence vanadium with an average oxidation state of 3.5. The dimer and ring systems are capable of the ring opening polymerisation (ROP) of ϵ-caprolactone under N2, air, or as melts affording mostly low to medium molecular weight cyclic and linear products

Heterometallic lanthanide-centred [NiII6LnIII] rings

A [NiII6DyIII] heptanuclear complex featuring a rare six-membered {NiII6} metal ring surrounding the central Dy(III) ion is reported. Magnetic studies reveal single-molecule magnet behaviour for the complex under zero external dc field, while replacing the DyIII ion with ΥIII or GdIII ions allows for a comprehensive understanding of the magnetic behaviour

A family of polynuclear cobalt complexes upon employment of an indeno-quinoxaline based oxime ligand

The reaction of Co(OAc)2·4H2O with LH (LH = 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one oxime) in MeOH in the presence of NEt3 forms the complex [CoIII2CoIIO(OAc)3L3]·0.5MeOH·0.2H2O (1·0.5MeOH·0.2H2O), while repeating the reaction under solvothermal conditions yielded the heptanuclear cluster [CoII7L9 (OH)2(OAc)2.7(MeO)0.3(H2O)]·4.6MeOH·3.3H2O (2·4.6MeOH·3.3H2O). Changing the starting metal salt to Co(ClO4)2·6H2O and upon the reaction with LH in the presence of NEt3 under high temperature and pressure, we managed to isolate the decanuclear cluster [CoII10L14(OH)3.6(MeO)0.4](ClO4)2·8.5MeOH·5.75H2O (3·8.5MeOH·5.75H2O), while under normal bench conditions and upon employment of pivalates in the reaction mixture complex [CoII4L4(piv)4(MeOH)2]·MeOH·H2O (4·MeOH·H2O) was formed. Furthermore, the reaction of Co(ClO4)2·6H2O with LH and aibH (2-amino-isobutyric acid) in the presence of NEt3 in MeOH gave the mononuclear complex [CoIIIL(aib)2]·3H2O (5·3H2O), while upon increasing the metal–ligand ratio cluster [CoIII2CoIIL4(aib)2(OH)2]·7.9MeOH (6·7.9MeOH) was isolated. Finally, repeating the reaction that yielded the mononuclear complex 5·3H2O under solvothermal conditions, gave the octanuclear cluster [CoII8L10(aib)2(MeO)2](ClO4)2·6.8MeOH·7H2O (7·6.8MeOH·7H2O). Variable temperature dc magnetic susceptibility studies for complexes 2, 3, 4 and 7, reveal that all clusters display dominant antiferromagnetic interactions leading to small or diamagnetic ground-states,

Odd and Even Numbered Ferric Wheels

Cutler DJ, Canaj AB, Singh MK, et al. Odd and Even Numbered Ferric Wheels. Advanced Science . 2023.The structurally related odd and even numbered wheels [FeIII 11 ZnII 4 (tea)10 (teaH)1 (OMe)Cl8 ] (1) and [FeIII 12 ZnII 4 (tea)12 Cl8 ] (2) can be synthesized under ambient conditions by reacting FeIII and ZnII salts with triethanolamine (teaH3 ), the change in nuclearity being dictated by the solvents employed. An antiferromagnetic exchange between nearest neighbors, J = -10.0 cm-1 for 1 and J = -12.0 cm-1 for 2, leads to a frustrated S = 1/2 ground state in the former and an S = 0 ground state in the latter. © 2023 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH

Engineering clock transitions in molecular lanthanide complexes

Molecular lanthanide (Ln) complexes are promising candidates for the development of next-generation quantum technologies. High-symmetry structures incorporating integer spin Ln ions can give rise to well-isolated crystal field quasi-doublet ground states, i.e., quantum two-level systems that may serve as the basis for magnetic qubits. Recent work has shown that symmetry lowering of the coordination environment around the Ln ion can produce an avoided crossing or clock transition within the ground doublet, leading to significantly enhanced coherence. Here, we employ single-crystal high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-level ab initio calculations to carry out a detailed investigation of the nine-coordinate complexes, [HoIIIL1L2], where L1 = 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraaza-cyclododecane and L2 = F– (1) or [MeCN]0 (2). The pseudo-4-fold symmetry imposed by the neutral organic ligand scaffold (L1) and the apical anionic fluoride ion generates a strong axial anisotropy with an mJ = ±8 ground-state quasi-doublet in 1, where mJ denotes the projection of the J = 8 spin–orbital moment onto the ∼C4 axis. Meanwhile, off-diagonal crystal field interactions give rise to a giant 116.4 ± 1.0 GHz clock transition within this doublet. We then demonstrate targeted crystal field engineering of the clock transition by replacing F– with neutral MeCN (2), resulting in an increase in the clock transition frequency by a factor of 2.2. The experimental results are in broad agreement with quantum chemical calculations. This tunability is highly desirable because decoherence caused by second-order sensitivity to magnetic noise scales inversely with the clock transition frequency