Amending the anisotropy barrier and luminescence behavior of heterometallic trinuclear linear M-II-Ln(III)-M-II (Ln(III)=Gd, Tb, Dy; M-II=Mg/Zn) complexes by change from divalent paramagnetic to diamagnetic metal ions

The sequential reaction of a multisite coordinating compartmental ligand LH4 [2-(2-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methylbenzylideneamino)-2-methylpropane-1,3-diol] with appropriate lanthanide salts followed by the addition of Mg(NO3)2·6H2O or Zn(NO3)2·6H2O in a 4:1:2 stoichiometric ratio in the presence of triethylamine affords a series of isostructural heterometallic trinuclear complexes containing [Mg2Ln]3+ [Ln = Dy (1), Gd (2) and Tb (3)] and [Zn2Ln]3+ [Ln = Dy (4), Gd (5) and Tb (6)] cores. The formation of 1-6 is demonstrated by X-ray crystallography as well as ESI-MS spectra. All complexes are isostructural possessing a linear trimetallic core with a central lanthanide ion. In this article we have discussed the comprehensive studies, involving synthesis, structure, magnetism and photophysical properties on this family of trinuclear [Mg2Ln]3+ and [Zn2Ln]3+ heterometallic complexes. Complexes 1 and 4 show slow relaxation of the magnetization below 12 K under zero applied direct-current field, but without reaching a neat maximum which is due to the overlapping with a faster quantum tunnelling relaxation mediated through dipole-dipole and hyperfine interactions. Under a small applied direct-current field of 1000 Oe the quantum tunneling was almost suppressed and temperature and frequency dependent peaks were observed, thus confirming the SMM behavior of complexes 1 and 4. The fit of the high-temperature relaxation times to the Arrhenius equation affords an effective energy barrier for the reversal of the magnetization of Ueff =72(2) K with o = 8 x 10-9 s for the SR process and Ueff = 61(2) K with o = 4 x 10-7 s for the FR process for 1 whereas for 4, an effective energy barrier for the reversal of the magnetization Ueff = 67(3) K with o = 4.5 x 10-8 s. To rule out the involvement of intermolecular collaborative interactions in the dynamic of relaxation, we have performed ac susceptibility measurements on 1:10 Dy:Y magnetic diluted samples of of 1 and 4, named as 1' and 4'. Interestingly, the diluted compounds 1' and 4' exhibits SMM behavior under zero magnetic field, thus suggesting that their relaxation processes are single molecular in origin and arise from the M-Dy-M unit. Ab initio CASSCF+RASSI calculations carried out on 1 and 4 confirm that the magnetic anisotropy is axial along the M-Dy-M axis and that the relaxation process occurs through the first excited energy level. Furthermore, the chromophoric [LH3]2- ligand is able to act as an 'antenna' group which was found to be effective in the selective sensitization of the emissions of TbIII-based complexes 3 and 6. The emission quantum yields and the luminescence lifetimes at room temperature are 11.7 % and 0.606 ms for 3, 22.7 % and 0.799 ms for 6

Decanuclear Ln(10) Wheels and Vertex-Shared Spirocyclic Ln(5) Cores: Synthesis, Structure, SMM Behavior, and MCE Properties

The reaction of a Schiff base ligand (LH3) with lanthanide salts, pivalic acid and triethylamine in 1:1:1:3 and 4:5:8:20 stoichiometric ratios results in the formation of decanuclear Ln10 (Ln=Dy(1), Tb(2), and Gd (3)) and pentanuclear Ln5 complexes (Ln=Gd (4), Tb (5), and Dy (6)), respectively. The formation of Ln10 and Ln5 complexes are fully governed by the stoichiometry of the reagents used. Detailed magnetic studies on these complexes (1-6) have been carried out. Complex 1 shows a SMM behavior with an effective energy barrier for the reversal of the magnetization (Ueff)=16.12(8) K and relaxation time (τo)=3.3×10-5 s under 4000 Oe direct current (dc) field. Complex 6 shows the frequency dependent maxima in the out-of-phase signal under zero dc field, without achieving maxima above 2 K. Complexes 3 and 4 show a large magnetocaloric effect with the following characteristic values: -ΔSm=26.6 J kg-1 K-1 at T=2.2 K for 3 and -ΔSm=27.1 J kg-1 K-1 at T=2.4 K for 4, both for an applied field change of 7 T. Homometallic complexes: The reaction of a multidentate flexible Schiff base ligand (LH3; see figure) with [LnCl3]6 H2O affords homometallic decanuclear complexes, [Ln10(LH)10(κ2-Piv)10] (Ln=Dy, Tb, and Gd), and homometallic pentanuclear complexes, [Ln5(LH)4(μ2-η1η1Piv)4(η1Piv)(S)] (Ln=Dy, Tb, and Gd). The Dy3+ analogues exhibit single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior, whereas the Gd3+ complexes show a significant magnetocaloric effect (MCE). © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Bifunctional Zn(II)Ln(III) Dinuclear Complexes Combining Field Induced SMM Behavior and Luminescence: Enhanced NIR Lanthanide Emission by 9-Anthracene Carboxylate Bridging Ligands

A series of ZnIILnIII dinuclear complexes of formula [Zn(μ-L)(μ-X)Ln(NO3)2] (H2L = compartmental ligand; X = none, NO3−, OAc−, and 9-An; LnIII = Dy, Tb, Er, Nd, Yb) having double diphenoxo bridges and triple diphenoxonitrate, acetate, and 9-anthracene carboxylate bridges have been structurally and magnetically characterized, and their luminescent properties studied in the vis and NIR regions. Two DyIII complexes and two ErIII complexes combine field-induced SMM behavior and luminescent properties