Field-Induced Dysprosium Single-Molecule Magnet Based on a Redox-Active Fused 1,10-Phenanthroline-Tetrathiafulvalene-1,10-Phenanthroline Bridging Triad

Tetrathiafulvalene and 1,10-phenanthroline moieties present, respectively remarkable redox-active and complexation activities. In this work, we investigated the coordination reaction between the bis(1,10-phenanthro[5,6-b])tetrathiafulvalene triad (L) and the Dy(hfac)₃·2H₂O metallo precursor. The resulting {[Dy₂(hfac)₆(L)]·CH₂Cl₂·C₆H₁₄}₃ (1) dinuclear complex showed a crystal structure in which the triad L bridged two terminal Dy(hfac)₃ units and the supramolecular co-planar arrangement of the triads is driven by donor-acceptor interactions. The frequency dependence of the out-of-phase component of the magnetic susceptibility highlights three distinct maxima under a 2000 Oe static applied magnetic field, a sign that 1 displays a Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) behavior with multiple magnetic relaxations. Ab initio calculations rationalized the Ising character of the magnetic anisotropy of the Dy^III ions and showed that the main anisotropy axes are perpendicular to the co-planar arrangement of the triads. Single-crystal rotating magnetometry confirms the orientation of the main magnetic axis. Finally combining structural analysis and probability of magnetic relaxation pathways through Quantum Tunneling of the Magnetization (QTM) vs. excited states (Orbach), each Dy^III center has been attributed to one of the three observed magnetic relaxation times. Such coordination compound can be considered as an ideal candidate to perform redox-magnetic switching.

Structural diversity and photo-physical and magnetic properties of dimeric to 1D polymeric coordination polymers of lighter lanthanide(iii) dinitrobenzoates

Single crystal diffraction studies reveal the formation of the following 10 new complexes of lighter Ln(iii) ions with general formulas {[Ln(μ2-L1)3·(H2O)2]·H2O}n (Ln = Nd (1) and Eu (2)), [Nd(μ2-L2)2·(CH3COO)·(H2O)2]n (3), [Ln2(μ2-L2)5·(L2)·(H2O)4]n (Ln = Sm (4), Ce (5), and Pr (6)), [La2(μ2-L2)6·(H2O)3·(DMF)]n (7) (DMF = dimethylformamide), [Ln(μ2-L2)2·(L2)·(H2O)3]2 (Ln = Eu (8) and Gd (9)) and [Gd(L2)·(CH3COO)2·(H2O)2]2 (10), where L1 and L2 are anions of 3,5- and 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid, respectively. Complexes 1-7 are 1D coordination polymers, while 8-10 are dinuclear complexes. The luminescence properties of Nd(iii) and Eu(iii) analogues displayed metal-centred emission with L1 exhibiting weak but more efficient sensitization than L2. A study of the magnetic properties of the compounds clearly demonstrated the field-induced single ion magnet behaviour of the Nd(iii) compounds 1 and 3. Their behaviour has been compared to previously reported analogous Nd(iii) complexes and the role of the lattice solvent and polymorphism on the magnetic behaviour has been evaluated.

Isotope effects on the spin dynamics of single-molecule magnets probed using muon spin spectroscopy

Subtle isotopic effects on spin dynamics are captured using Muon Spin Relaxation experiments on isotopically enriched Dy-based single molecule magnets.

Magnetic Memory from Site Isolated Dy(III) on Silica Materials

Achieving magnetic remanence at single isolated metal sites dispersed at the surface of a solid matrix has been envisioned as a key step toward information storage and processing in the smallest unit of matter. Here, we show that isolated Dy(III) sites distributed at the surface of silica nanoparticles, prepared with a simple and scalable two-step process, show magnetic remanence and display a hysteresis loop open at liquid ⁴He temperature, in contrast to the molecular precursor which does not display any magnetic memory. This singular behavior is achieved through the controlled grafting of a tailored Dy(III) siloxide complex on partially dehydroxylated silica nanoparticles followed by thermal annealing. This approach allows control of the density and the structure of isolated, "bare" Dy(III) sites bound to the silica surface. During the process, all organic fragments are removed, leaving the surface as the sole ligand, promoting magnetic remanence.

Lanthanide complexes involving multichelating TTF-based ligands

The TTF-based skeleton could be alkylated with either the di(pyrazol-1-yl)-4-pyridyl (L1) or dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (L2) to design multichelating ligands. The ([Yb₂(hfac)₆(L1)]·2(CH₂Cl₂)·C₆H₁₄ (1) and [Ln₂(hfac)₆(L2)]·CH₂Cl₂ (Ln = Yb (2) and Dy (3)) complexes which display either SMM behaviour with the hysteresis loop at 0.5 K or multi-NIR emissions.

Isotopically enriched polymorphs of dysprosium single molecule magnets

The magnetic memory effect of mononuclear Dy^III-based single molecule magnets can be tuned by playing with polymorphism as well as isotopic enrichment.

Improved slow magnetic relaxation in optically pure helicene-based DyIII single molecule magnets

Racemic and optically pure [Dy(hfac)₃(L)] complexes with L = 3-(2-pyridyl)-4-aza[6]-helicene have been synthesized and characterized.

Thermal and near-infrared light induced spin crossover in a mononuclear iron(ii) complex with a tetrathiafulvalene-fused dipyridophenazine ligand

A thermal and photo-induced spin transition in a tetrathiafulvalene-based Fe(ii) complex.

Lanthanide ion and tetrathiafulvalene-based ligand as a "magic" couple toward luminescence, single molecule magnets, and magnetostructural correlations

The synthesis of molecules featuring different properties is a perpetual challenge for the chemists' community. The coexistence and even more the synergy of those properties open new perspectives in the field of molecular devices and molecular electronics. In that sense, coordination chemistry contributed to the development of new functional molecules through, for instance, single-molecule magnets (SMMs) and light emitting molecules with potential applications in high capacity data storage and OLEDs, respectively. The appealing combination of both electronic properties into one single object may offer the possibility to have magnetized luminescent entities at nanometric scale. To that end, lanthanides seem to be one of the key ingredients since their peculiar electronic structures endow them with specific magnetic and luminescence properties. Indeed, lanthanides cover a wide range of emission wavelengths, from infrared to UV, which add up to a large variety of magnetic behaviors, from the fully isotropic spin (e.g., Gd(III)) to highly anisotropic magnetic moments (e.g., Dy(III)). In lanthanide complexes, ligands play a fundamental role because on one hand they govern the orientation of the magnetic moment of anisotropic lanthanides and on the other hand they can sensitize efficiently the luminescence. The design of appropriate organic ligands to elaborate such chemical objects with the desired property appears to be essential but remains a perpetual challenge. In this Account, we describe the design of lanthanide-based complexes that emit light, behave as SMMs, or combine both properties. We have paid peculiar attention to the design of ligands based on the tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) moiety. TTF and its derivatives are well-known chemical entities, stable at different oxidation states, and employed mainly in the synthesis of molecular conductors and superconductors. In addition to their redox properties, TTF-based derivatives act as organic chromophores for the sensitization of visible and near-infrared (NIR) luminescence of lanthanides. The mechanism of sensitization involves either antenna effect (energy transfer from the excited state) or photoinduced electron transfer. TTF-based ligands act also as structural agents in the conception of SMM in crystals. Such objects are obtained with the highly anisotropic Dy(III) ion in crystalline phase as well as in frozen solution with magnetic memory at helium-4 temperature (4 K). We highlight the influence of the magnetic dilution (both in amorphous solution and in diamagnetic crystalline matrix) and, particular case of dysprosium based SMMs, the effect of metal-centered isotope enrichment on the SMM properties. Our aim is not only to realize functional molecules but to rationalize both luminescence and magnetic properties on the basis of the structure of the molecules. These two properties are intimately intricate and governed by the electronic structure, which can be calculated and interpreted using modern quantum chemistry tools.

Luminescence and single-molecule magnet behavior in lanthanide complexes involving a tetrathiafulvalene-fused dipyridophenazine ligand

The reaction between the TTF-fused dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) ligand (L) and 1 equiv of Ln(hfac)3·2H2O (hfac(-) = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetyacetonate) or 1 equiv of Ln(tta)3·2H2O (tta(-) = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) (Ln(III) = Dy(III) or Yb(III)) metallic precursors leads to four mononuclear complexes of formula [Ln(hfac)3(L)]·C6H14 (Ln(III) = Dy(III) (1), Yb(III) (2)) and [Ln(tta)3(L)]·C6H14 (Ln(III) = Dy(III) (3), Yb(III) (4)), respectively. Their X-ray structures reveal that the Ln(III) ion is coordinated to the bischelating nitrogenated coordination site and adopts a D4d coordination environment. The dynamic magnetic measurements show a slow relaxation of the Dy(III) magnetization for 1 and 3 with parameters highlighting a slower relaxation for 3 than for 1 (τ0 = 4.14(±1.36) × 10(-6) and 1.32(±0.07) × 10(-6) s with Δ = 39(±3) and 63.7(±0.7) K). This behavior as well as the orientation of the associated magnetic anisotropy axes have been rationalized on the basis of both crystal field splitting parameters and ab initio SA-CASSCF/RASSI-SO calculations. Irradiation of the lowest-energy HOMO → LUMO ILCT absorption band induces a (2)F5/2 → (2)F7/2 Yb-centered emission for 2 and 4. For these Yb(III) compounds, Stevens operators method has been used to fit the thermal variation of the magnetic susceptibilities, and the resulting MJ splittings have been correlated with the emission lines.

Magnetic and photo-physical investigations into DyIII and YbIII complexes involving tetrathiafulvalene ligand

Three TTF-based complexes have been elaborated using β-diketonate Dy^III and Yb^III precursors. [Yb(tta)₃(L)]·2CH₂Cl₂ enlarges the scarce series of redox-active luminescent single-molecule magnets with correlation between emissive and magnetic properties.

Influence of the supramolecular architecture on the magnetic properties of a Dy(III) single-molecule magnet: an ab initio investigation

Single-crystal angular-resolved magnetometry and wavefunction-based calculations have been used to reconsider the magnetic properties of a recently reported Dy(III)-based single-molecule magnet, namely [Dy(hfac)3(L(1))] with hfac(-) = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate and L(1) = 2-(4,5-bis(propylthio)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-6-(pyridin-2-yl)-5H-[1,3]dithiolo[4',5':4,5]benzo[1,2-d]imidazole. The magnetic susceptibility and magnetization at low temperature are found to be strongly influenced by supramolecular interactions. Moreover, taking into account the hydrogen-bond networks in the calculations allows to explain the orientation of the magnetic axes. This strongly suggests that hydrogen bonds play an important role in the modulation of the electrostatic environment around the Dy(III) center that governs the nature of its magnetic ground-state and the orientation of its anisotropy axes. We thus show here that SMM properties that rely on supramolecular organization may not be transferable into single-molecule devices.