Magnetic Molecular Conductors

A remarkably air-stable quinodimethane radical cation

An ambient-stable radical cation of a Thiele's hydrocarbon derivative has been synthesized and its properties have been explored using a combined experimental and computational approach.

Coordination microenvironment perturbed single-ion magnet behavior in a β-diketone Dy(iii) complex

Employing mixed β-diketonate and bpy ligands leads to a mononuclear Dy(iii) SIM, of which the magneto-structural correlation is elucidated by the magnetic and theoretical studies, as well as a comparative study of reported analogues.

Paramagnetic One-Dimensional Chain Complex Consisting of Three Kinds of Metallic Species Showing Magnetic Interaction through Metal-Metal Bonds

A heterometallic and paramagnetic one-dimensional (1-D) chain (3) aligned as -Rh(+2)-Rh(+2)-Pt(+2)-Co(+2)-Pt(+2)- with direct metal-metal bonds was obtained by HOMO-LUMO interactions at the σ* (d_z²) orbital between two kinds of complexes. The 1-D chains in 3 have relatively straight backbones because the raw material complexes, [Rh₂(O₂CCH₃)₄] and [Pt₂Co(piam)₄(NH₃)₄], are connected and stacked in a face-to-face fashion, where Co---Co are separated by about 13.3 Å with four different metals. Physical measurements revealed that 3 has a band gap between the σ-type conduction and valence bands, where d-orbitals of the Co ion with three unpaired electrons are laid among them. The magnetic behavior of 3 was investigated and found to be consistent with a complex interaction involving both zero-field splitting and Pauli paramagnetism attributed to band formation superimposed on relatively strong exchange coupling (zJ = -22.2 cm^-1) between two high-spin Co(+2) ions separated by the diamagnetic Pt-Rh-Rh-Pt.

Conducting Coronene Cation Radical Salt Containing Magnetic Metal Ions

Coronene is the smallest homologue of benzene and is the smallest fragment of graphene among 6-fold symmetric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In this study, we obtained the first coronene cation radical solid containing magnetic counterions by an electrochemical method. Coronene monocations in the 1:1 salt, (coronene^•+)(FeBr₄^-), assemble in a stacking manner via π-π interactions, which lead to a rather high room-temperature conductivity of 0.6 S cm^-1. The salt shows semiconducting behavior as expected from the calculated band structure, and activation energies were estimated to be 0.25 eV at T ≥ 220 K and 0.18 eV at T ≤ 220 K. The magnetic susceptibility follows the Curie-Weiss law down to about 30 K, with a Curie constant (4.47 emu K mol^-1) expected for S = 5/2 spins of iron(III) ions and a high Weiss temperature (-32.2 K). Upon further cooling, the salt exhibits a susceptibility kink at 16.2 K followed by the loss of a significant fraction of the susceptibility due to long-range antiferromagnetic ordering. Theoretical calculations predicted that the indirect π-d magnetic exchange interaction through C-H···Br hydrogen bonds is equal to J_πd = -3.10 K. Although the absolute value is lower than that of the direct d-d magnetic exchange interaction between the FeBr₄^- anions (J_dd = -13.35 K), it is evident that the π-d interactions play a certain role in determining the magnetic behavior. Considering that an isomorphous salt, (coronene^•+)(GaBr₄^-) involving a nonmagnetic counterpart GaBr₄^-, exhibits singlet-triplet magnetic behavior with a spin gap of 1.44 × 10³ K, it is most likely that in (coronene)(FeBr₄) the nonmagnetic π-electrons serve as mediators of the magnetic ordering of d-spins through the π-d interactions.

Redox-Active Dysprosium Single-Molecule Magnet: Spectro-Electrochemistry and Theoretical Investigations

The mononuclear single-molecule magnet (SMM) [Dy(tta)3(L)]⋅C6H14 (1) (where tta− = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate and L = 4,5-bis(propylthio)-tetrathiafulvalene-2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole-methyl-2-pyridine) was studied by spectro-electrochemistry. The resulting electronic spectra of the three oxidation states 1, 1+∙, and 12+ were rationalized by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations starting from the DFT optimized structures. The modulation of the magnetic anisotropy of the DyIII center upon oxidation was also inspected at the Complete Active Space Self-Consistent Field (CASSCF) level of calculation.

Extended Assemblies of Ru(bpy)(CO)2X2 (X = Cl, Br, I) Molecules Linked by 1,4-Diiodotetrafluoro-Benzene (DITFB) Halogen Bond Donors

The ruthenium carbonyl compounds, Ru(bpy)(CO)2X2 (X = Cl, Br or I) act as neutral halogen bond (XB) acceptors when co-crystallized with 1,4-diiodotetrafluoro-benzene (DITFB). The halogen bonding strength of the Ru-X⋅⋅⋅I halogen bonds follow the nucleophilic character of the halido ligand. The strongest halogen bond occurs between the chlorido ligand and the iodide atoms of the DITFB. All three halogen bonded complexes form polymeric assemblies in the solid state. In Ru(bpy)(CO)2Cl2⋅DITFB (1) and in Ru(bpy)(CO)2Br2⋅DITFB (2) both halido ligands are halogen bonded to only one DITFB donor. In Ru(bpy)(CO)2I2⋅DITFB (3) only one of the halido ligands is involved in halogen bonding acting as ditopic center for two DITFB donors. The polymeric structures of 1 and 2 are isomorphic wave-like single chain systems, while the iodine complexes form pairs of linear chains attached together with weak F⋅⋅⋅O≡C interactions between the closest neighbors. The stronger polarization of the iodide ligand compared to the Cl or Br ligands favors nearly linear C-I⋅⋅⋅I angles between the XB donor and the metal complex supporting the linear arrangement of the halogen bonded chain.

Making Prussian blue analogues nanoparticles luminescent: effect of the luminophore confinement over the properties

In this communication, we report the post-synthetic functionalization of K+/Ni2+/[Cr(CN)6]3- Prussian blue analogue (PBA) nanoparticles by the 2-aminoanthracene luminophore to yield a bifunctional magneto-luminescent nanosystem. The photoluminescence properties of the fluorophore are found modified by the confinement effect upon adsorption, while the magnetic behavior of PBA is preserved.

Magnetic and Electronic Properties of π-d Interacting Molecular Magnetic Superconductor κ-(BETS)2FeX4 (X = Cl, Br) Studied by Angle-Resolved Heat Capacity Measurements

Thermodynamic picture induced by π-d interaction in a molecular magnetic superconductor κ-(BETS)2FeX4 (X = Cl, Br), where BETS is bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene, studied by single crystal calorimetry is reviewed. Although the S = 5/2 spins of Fe3+ in the anion layers form a three-dimensional long-range ordering with nearly full entropy of Rln6, a broad hump structure appears in the temperature dependence of the magnetic heat capacity only when the magnetic field is applied parallel to the a axis, which is considered as the magnetic easy axis. The scaling of the temperature dependence of the magnetic heat capacity of the two salts is possible using the parameter of |Jdd|/kB and therefore the origin of the hump structure is related to the direct magnetic interaction, Jdd, that is dominant in the system. Quite unusual crossover from a three-dimensional ordering to a one-dimensional magnet occurs when magnetic fields are applied parallel to the a axis. A notable anisotropic field-direction dependence against the in-plane magnetic field was also observed in the transition temperature of the bulk superconductivity by the angle-resolved heat capacity measurements. We discuss the origin of this in-plane anisotropy in terms of the 3d electron spin configuration change induced by magnetic fields.

Study of stacking interactions between two neutral tetrathiafulvalene molecules in Cambridge Structural Database crystal structures and by quantum chemical calculations

Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and its derivatives are very well known as electron donors with widespread use in the field of organic conductors and superconductors. Stacking interactions between two neutral TTF fragments were studied by analysing data from Cambridge Structural Database crystal structures and by quantum chemical calculations. Analysis of the contacts found in crystal structures shows high occurrence of parallel displaced orientations of TTF molecules. In the majority of the contacts, two TTF molecules are displaced along their longer C 2 axis. The most frequent geometry has the strongest TTF–TTF stacking interaction, with CCSD(T)/CBS energy of −9.96 kcal mol−1. All the other frequent geometries in crystal structures are similar to geometries of the minima on the calculated potential energy surface.

Planar Benzo[1,2- b:4,5- b']dithiophene Derivatives Decorated with Nitronyl and Imino Nitroxides

Four weakly antiferromagnetic interacting biradicals of benzo[1,2- b:4,5- b']dithiophene (BDT) and BDT extended with two thiophenes (BDTTh₂) linked with nitronyl and imino nitroxides (NN and IN) as BDT-NN, BDT-IN, BDTTh₂-NN, and BDTTh₂-IN were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Short intermolecular π-π distances were found (3.42 Å) for BDT-NN, whereas larger ones were found for BDT-IN (3.54 Å) and BDTTh₂-NN (3.67 Å), respectively. Intramolecular magnetic interaction ( J_intra,exp/ k_B) of BDT-NN (-26 K) is much larger than for BDT-IN (-5.3 K), while it is reduced for the dithiophene-extended molecule BDTTh₂-NN (-2.3 K). Intermolecular interactions ( zJ_inter,exp/ k_B) of BDT-NN (-6.5 K) and BDT-IN (-6.0 K) are stronger than for BDTTh₂-NN (-4.6 K). Such large intermolecular couplings resulting from good π-stacking mark BDT-IN and BDTTh₂-NN as promising crystalline materials with similar sized J_intra and J_inter. In addition, we also extracted a coupling within the chain of J_chain/ k_B = -2.2 K and a coupling between the chains of zJ_interchain = -1.5 K for BDTTh₂-NN by a Heisenberg chain model. Intra- and intermolecular interactions and spin densities were examined by DFT studies.

Strong stacking interactions of metal–chelate rings are caused by substantial electrostatic component

Stacking interactions of metal–chelate rings are strong due to very strong electrostatic energy component.

Organic chelate-free and azido-rich metal clusters and coordination polymers from the use of Me3SiN3: a new synthetic route to complexes with beautiful structures and diverse magnetic properties

A new synthetic route to structurally novel and magnetically interesting 3d-metal azido clusters and coordination polymers is presented; the key reagent for the preparation of solely azido-bridged molecule-based species is the organic azide precursor Me₃SiN₃.

Electrical conductivity and vibrational studies induced phase transitions in [(C2H5)4N]FeCl4

The compound, tetraethylammonium tetrachloroferrate [(C₂H₅)₄N]FeCl₄, was prepared by slow evaporation at room temperature. It was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis, and impedance and vibrational spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction data confirmed formation of a single phase material which crystallized at room temperature in the hexagonal system (P6₃ mc space group). DSC showed the existence of two phase transitions at 413 K and 430 K. Electrical conductivity was measured in the temperature and frequency ranges of 390 K to 440 K and 40 Hz to 110 MHz, respectively. Nyquist plots revealed the existence of grains and grain boundaries that were fitted to an equivalent circuit. AC conductivity plots were analyzed by Jonscher's power law. Variations in the "s" values indicated that CBH models describe the conduction mechanism in regions I and II. Temperature dependence of Raman spectra showed that the most important changes were observed in the cationic parts ([(C₂H₅)₄N]⁺). The activation energy value obtained from the line width decreased which indicated an order-disorder model.

Formation of the layered conductive magnet CrCl2(pyrazine)2 through redox-active coordination chemistry

The unique properties of graphene, transition-metal dichalcogenides and other two-dimensional (2D) materials have boosted interest in layered coordination solids. In particular, 2D materials that behave as both conductors and magnets could find applications in quantum magnetoelectronics and spintronics. Here, we report the synthesis of CrCl₂(pyrazine)₂, an air-stable layered solid, by reaction of CrCl₂ with pyrazine (pyz). This compound displays a ferrimagnetic order below ∼55 K, reflecting the presence of strong magnetic interactions. Electrical conductivity measurements demonstrate that CrCl₂(pyz)₂ reaches a conductivity of 32 mS cm^-1 at room temperature, which operates through a 2D hopping-based transport mechanism. These properties are induced by the redox-activity of the pyrazine ligand, which leads to a smearing of the Cr 3d and pyrazine π states. We suggest that the combination of redox-active ligands and reducing paramagnetic metal ions represents a general approach towards tuneable 2D materials that consist of charge-neutral layers and exhibit both long-range magnetic order and high electronic conductivity.

Exchange Interactions Switch Tunneling: A Comparative Experimental and Theoretical Study on Relaxation Dynamics by Targeted Metal Ion Replacement

The magnetic relaxation and magnetization blocking barriers of tailor-made homo- and heterodinuclear compounds [Dy₂ (opch)₂ (OAc)₂ (H₂ O)₂ ]⋅MeOH (1) and [DyMn(opch)₂ (OAc)(MeOH)(H₂ O)₂ ] (2), where H₂ opch is (E)-N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)pyrazine-2-carbohydrazide, were systematically investigated and the change in single-molecule magnet behavior originating from targeted replacement of one dysprosium site in the Dy₂ compound with manganese was elucidated through a combination of experimental and theoretical studies. A detailed comparative study on these closely related model compounds revealed remarkable changes of the crystal-field splitting and anisotropy of the Dy site and the total exchange spectrum due to the replacement of Dy by Mn. The blocking barriers of these two compounds, which explain their different relaxation behaviors, were analyzed. The two Ising doublets arising from the magnetic interaction in the case of 1 are strongly uniaxial, with tunneling splittings smaller than 10^-6  cm^-1 , and this leads to magnetic relaxation at temperatures exceeding the exchange energy (2.14 cm^-1 ), which involves transition via the excited states corresponding to local transitions on the excited doublet at the Dy site. The third and fourth exchange doublets in 2 (located at 2.16 and 3.25 cm^-1 , respectively) show much larger tunneling splittings (of 10^-4 and 10^-3  cm^-1 , respectively), and thus open an important path for magnetic relaxation.

Dinuclear Dy2 Single-Molecule Magnets: Functional Modulation on the Bridging Ligand and Different Relaxation Performances within the Single-Crystal to Single-Crystal System

Crystal structures, single-molecule magnetic behavior, and ab initio calculations of four new phenoxo-bridged dinuclear dysprosium complexes and their gadolinium(III) analogues are explored. Complexes [Dy₂ (DMOMP)₂ (DBM)₄ ]₂ ⋅CHCl₃ (1; DMOMP=1-methyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzene, DBM=1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dione); [Dy₂ (DMOAP)₂ (DBM)₄ ]₂ ⋅CHCl₃ (2; DMOAP=syringaldehyde); Dy₂ (DMOEP)₂ (DBM)₄ (3; DMOEP=methyl syringate); and solvent-free Dy₂ (DMOMP)₂ (DBM)₄ (4), which is obtained by the transformation of single crystal into single crystal from 1, have nearly identical core structures and only differ in the substituents at the para position of the phenol moieties of the bridging ligand. In this system, the electronic effects are efficiently implemented to significantly modify the ligand field strength and exchange coupling by modulating the substituents on the phenol backbone. The effective energy barrier (U_eff ) of magnetization reversal is improved significantly to fivefold magnitude, at most, and the hysteresis temperature up to 3.5 K by deliberately using the electron-withdrawing substituent to replace the electron-donating one. The origin of the two relaxation processes in 1 is mostly attributed to the existence of two molecules in one unit, which is illuminated by means of the transformation of single crystal into single crystal.

Modulation of the Coordination Environment around the Magnetic Easy Axis Leads to Significant Magnetic Relaxations in a Series of 3d-4f Schiff Complexes

A series of Salen-type Zn(II)-Dy(III) complexes [L¹Zn(II)ClDy(III)(acac)₂]·H₂O (1), [L¹Zn(II)BrDy(III)(acac)₂]·H₂O (2), [L¹Zn(II)(H₂O)Dy(III)(acac)₂]·CH₂Cl₂·PF₆ (3), [L²Zn(II)(H₂O)Dy(III)(acac)₂]·PF₆ (4), and Co(III)-Dy(III) complexes [L¹Co(III)Br₂Dy(III)(acac)₂]·CH₂Cl₂ (5), [L²Co(III)Cl₂Dy(III)(acac)Cl(MeO)] (6), [L²Co(III)Cl₂Dy(III)(acac)Cl(H₂O)] (7), and [L²Co(III)Cl₂Dy(III)(NO₃)₂(MeO)] (8) heterobinuclear single-molecule magnets (SMMs) were synthesized and magnetically characterized. These complexes were constructed by incorporating diamagnetic Zn(II) and Co(III) ions with acetylacetone (acac) and compartmental Schiff-base ligands (H₂L¹ = N, N'-bis(2-oxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine; H₂L² = N, N'-bis(2-oxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane). In the Zn(II)-Dy(III) (1-4) system, the coordination environments of the Dy(III) ions are nearly identical, but the apical coordination atom to the Zn(II) ion is different. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 displayed no magnetic relaxation in the absence of external magnetic field, but complex 3 displayed more pronounced SMM behavior with a relaxation energy barrier U_eff/ k_B 38 K and magnetic hysteresis at 1.8 K. The SMM performances of 5, 6, and 7 were enhanced significantly by incorporating an octahedral Co(III) instead of square-pyramidal Zn(II) and replacing one of acac^- group around Dy(III) ion by a neutral O atom, displaying U_eff of 167, 118, and 75 K as well as magnetic hysteresis up to 3.5 K. These studies indicated that the remote diamagnetic Zn(II) and Co(III) ions played a key role, and the SMM properties were very strongly related to the special coordination atoms configuration around Dy(III) ion. When this coordination configuration around was broken as 8 exhibited, however, it resulted in a dramatically decreased SMM performance. From this work, the key factors that significantly affect the SMM performance of these heteronuclear Zn(II)/Co(III)-Dy(III) SMMs are unambiguously presented.

Use of the TCNQF4 2- Dianion in the Spontaneous Redox Formation of [FeIII (L- )2 ][TCNQF4 ⋅- ]

The reaction of [Fe^II (L^. )₂ ](BF₄ )₂ with Li₂ TCNQF₄ results in the formation of [Fe^III (L^- )₂ ][TCNQF₄ ^{. -} ] (1) where L^. is the radical ligand, 4,4-dimethyl-2,2-di(2-pyridyl)oxazolidine-N-oxide and TCNQF₄ is 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane. This has been characterised by X-ray diffraction, Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility, Mössbauer spectroscopy and electrochemistry. X-ray diffraction studies, magnetic susceptibility measurements and Raman and FTIR spectroscopy suggest the presence of low-spin Fe^III ions, the anionic form (L^- ) of the ligand and the anionic radical form of TCNQF₄ ; viz. TCNQF₄ ^{. -} . Li₂ TCNQF₄ reduces the [Fe^II (L^. )₂ ]²⁺ dication, which undergoes a reductively induced oxidation to form the [Fe^III (L^- )₂ ]⁺ monocation resulting in the formation of [Fe^III (L^- )₂ ][TCNQF₄ ^{. -} ] (1), the electrochemistry of which revealed four well-separated, diffusion-controlled, one-electron, reversible processes. Mössbauer spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements suggest the presence of a minor second species, likely to be [Fe^II (L^. )₂ ][TCNQF₄ ^2- ].

Electronically Mediated Magnetic Anisotropy in Vibrating Magnetic Molecules

We address the electronically induced anisotropy field acting on a spin moment in a vibrating magnetic molecule located in the junction between ferromagnetic metals. Under weak coupling between the electrons and molecular vibrations, the nature of the anisotropy can be changed from favoring a high spin (easy-axis) magnetic moment to a low spin (easy plane) by applying a temperature difference or a voltage bias across the junction. For unequal spin polarizations in ferromagnetic metals, it is shown that the character of the anisotropy is essentially determined by the properties of the weaker ferromagnet. By increasing the temperature in this metal or introducing a voltage bias, its influence can be suppressed such that the dominant contribution to the anisotropy is interchanged to the stronger ferromagnet. With increasing coupling strength between the molecular vibrations and the electrons, the nature of the anisotropy is locked into favoring easy-plane magnetism.

Electronic Structure and Magnetic Interactions in the Radical Salt [BEDT-TTF]2[CuCl4]

The magnetic behavior and electric properties of the hybrid radical salt [BEDT-TTF]₂[CuCl₄] have been revisited through extended experimental analyses and DDCI and periodic DFT plane waves calculations. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data have been collected at different temperatures, discovering a phase transition occurring in the 250-300 K range. The calculations indicate the presence of intradimer, interdimer, and organic-inorganic π-d interactions in the crystal, a magnetic pattern much more complex than the Bleaney-Bowers model initially assigned to this material. Although this simple model was good enough to reproduce the magnetic susceptibility data, our calculations demonstrate that the actual magnetic structure is significantly more intricate, with alternating antiferromagnetic 1D chains of the organic BEDT-TTF⁺ radical, connected through weak antiferromagnetic interactions with the CuCl₄^2- ions. Combination of experiment and theory allowed us to unambiguously determine and quantify the leading magnetic interactions in the system. The density-of-states curves confirm the semiconductor nature of the system and the dominant organic contribution of the valence and conduction band edges. This general and combined approach appears to be fundamental in order to properly understand the magnetic structure of these complex materials, where experimental data can actually be fitted from a variety of models and parameters.

Chelated metal ions modulate the strength and geometry of stacking interactions: energies and potential energy surfaces for chelate-chelate stacking

Quantum chemical calculations were performed on model systems of stacking interactions between the acac type chelate rings of nickel, palladium, and platinum. CCSD(T)/CBS calculations showed that chelate-chelate stacking interactions are significantly stronger than chelate-aryl and aryl-aryl stacking interactions. Interaction energy surfaces were calculated at the LC-ωPBE-D3BJ/aug-cc-pVDZ level, which gives energies in good agreement with CCSD(T)/CBS. The stacking of chelates in an antiparallel orientation is stronger than the stacking in a parallel orientation, which is in agreement with the larger number of antiparallel stacked chelates in crystal structures from the Cambridge Structural Database. The strongest antiparallel chelate-chelate stacking interaction is formed between two platinum chelates, with a CCSD(T)/CBS interaction energy of -9.70 kcal mol-1, while the strongest stacking between two palladium chelates and two nickel chelates has CCSD(T)/CBS energies of -9.21 kcal mol-1 and -9.50 kcal mol-1, respectively. The strongest parallel chelate-chelate stacking was found for palladium chelates, with a LC-ωPBE-D3BJ/aug-cc-pVDZ energy of -6.51 kcal mol-1. The geometries of the potential surface minima are not the same for the three metals. The geometries of the minima are governed by electrostatic interactions, which are the ones determining the positions of the energy minima. Electrostatic interactions are governed by different electrostatic potentials above the metals, which are very positive for nickel, slightly positive for palladium, and slightly negative for platinum.

Tuning the Mesomorphism and Redox Response of Anionic-Ligand-Based Mixed-Valent Nickel(II) Complexes by Alkyl-Substituted Quaternary Ammonium Cations

The combination of the redox-active mesogenic anion [Ni^II (Bdt)(BdtSQ)]^- (Bdt=1,2-benzenedithiolato; BdtSQ=1,2-dithia-semi-benzoquinonato) with alkyl-substituted ammonium cations afforded a series of redox-active ionic complexes of the type [NR₄ ][Ni^II (Bdt)(BdtSQ)] [R=nC₁₆ H₃₃ (NC16₄ Ni) and C8,10 (NC8,10₄ Ni); C8,10=6-octylhexadecyl] or [NMe₂ R₂ ][Ni^II (Bdt)(BdtSQ)] [R=nC₁₆ H₃₃ (NMe₂ C16₂ Ni) and C8,10 (NMe₂ C8,10₂ Ni)]. X-ray crystallographic analyses of NMe₂ C16₂ Ni and NC16₄ Ni revealed the formation of cation-dependent integrated ionic layers separated by interdigittated alkyl chains. Complexes NMe₂ C16₂ Ni and NC16₄ Ni commonly form crystalline phases at room temperature, whereas complexes NMe₂ C8,10₂ Ni and NC8,10₄ Ni, which contain branched alkyl chains, form a metastable mesophase and an amorphous phase at the same temperature, respectively. Furthermore, complexes NMe₂ C16₂ Ni, NMe₂ C8,10₂ Ni, and NC16₄ Ni commonly form a smectic A phase (SmA) at 375, 317, and 342 K, respectively. For the four complexes, well-defined cyclic voltammetry responses, derived from ligand-based oxidation and reduction, were observed in solution and the condensed phases, that is, upon casting these complexes on an indium-doped tin oxide working electrode. The present study demonstrates the tunability of the mesomorphism of ionic molecular assemblies composed of alkyl-substituted quaternary ammonium cations, while maintaining the well-defined redox responses of the anions even in the condensed phases.

Coupling photo-, mechano- and thermochromism and single-ion-magnetism of two mononuclear dysprosium-anthracene-phosphonate complexes

DyIII(depma)3(NO3)3 (1) and DyIII(depma)4(NO3)2(CF3SO3) (2) differ structurally by the number of depma ligands and the supramolecular interactions (π-π and C-Hπ, respectively) between anthracene moieties. They exhibit single-ion-magnetism which is coupled to photo- and mechanochromism that are partially reversible by thermal annealing. The changes are associated with the formation and destruction of excimers.

An electrically conducting crystal composed of an octahedrally ligated porphyrin complex with high-spin iron(iii)

A porphyrin-based octahedrally ligated complex with high-spin iron(iii) was designed, and the resulting electrically conducting crystal TPP[Fe^III(tbp)Br₂]₂ (TPP = tetraphenylphosphonium and tbp = tetrabenzoporphyrin) was synthesised. Although TPP[Fe(tbp)Br₂]₂ was isostructural to the reported TPP[Fe(Mc)L₂]₂ systems (Mc = macrocyclic ligands such as phthalocyanine (Pc) or tbp; and L = CN, Cl, or Br), the bond lengths between Fe and ligands in the [Fe(tbp)Br₂] unit were evidently longer than those in the other units, because of the different spin states of Fe: high-spin in TPP[Fe(tbp)Br₂]₂ and low-spin in others. The magnetic anisotropy observed in the low-spin state vanished when the Fe is in the high-spin state. Based on reports for Pc-based systems, the negative magnetoresistance (MR) effect for TPP[Fe(tbp)Br₂]₂ was expected to be smaller than that for TPP[Fe(tbp)(CN)₂]₂. However, the former showed a giant negative MR effect similar to or larger than the latter, suggesting that the nature of iron is a crucial factor for the electrical properties of porphyrin-based materials.

Magnetic functionalities in MOFs: from the framework to the pore

In this review, we show the different approaches developed so far to prepare metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) presenting electronic functionalities, with particular attention to magnetic properties. We will cover the chemical design of frameworks necessary for the incorporation of different magnetic phenomena, as well as the encapsulation of functional species in their pores leading to hybrid multifunctional MOFs combining an extended lattice with a molecular lattice.

Multifunctional Compound Combining Conductivity and Single-Molecule Magnetism in the Same Temperature Range

We report the first highly conducting single-molecule magnet, (BEDO)₄[ReF₆]·6H₂O [1; BEDO = bis(ethylenedioxo)tetrathiafulvalene], whose conductivity and single-molecule magnetism coexist in the same temperature range. The compound was synthesized by BEDO electrocrystallization in the presence of (Ph₄P)₂[ReF₆]·2H₂O and characterized by crystallography and measurements of the conductivity and alternating-current magnetic susceptibility.

Magnetic Sponge with Neutral-Ionic Phase Transitions

Phase transitions caused by the charge instability between the neutral and ionic phases of compounds, i.e., N-I phase transitions, provide avenues for switching the intrinsic properties of compounds related to electron/spin correlation and dipole generation as well as charge distribution. However, it is extremely difficult to control the transition temperature (Tc) for the N-I phase transition, and only chemical modification based on the original material have been investigated. Here, a design overview of the tuning of N-I phase transition by interstitial guest molecules is presented. This study reports a new chain coordination-polymer [Ru2(3,4-Cl2PhCO2)4TCNQ(EtO)2]∙DCE (1-DCE; 3,4-Cl2PhCO2- = 3,4-dichlorobenzoate; TCNQ(EtO)2 2,5-diethoxy-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane; and DCE = 1,2-dichloroethane) that exhibits a one-step N-I transition at 230 K (= Tc) with the N- and I-states possessing a simple paramagnetic state and a ferrimagnetically correlated state for the high- and low-temperature phases, respectively. The Tc continuously decreases depending on the content of DCE, which eventually disappears with the complete evacuation of DCE, affording solvent-free compound 1 with the N-state in the entire temperature range (this behavior is reversible). This is an example of tuning the in situ Tc for the N-I phase transition via the control of the interstitial guest molecules.