A Liquid-Crystalline Single-Molecule Magnet with Variable Magnetic Properties

Synthesis of Isomeric Tb3+ -Phthalocyanine Double-Decker Complexes Depending on the Difference in the Direction of Coordination Plane and Their Magnetic Properties

A C_4h symmetrically substituted phthalocyanine, 1,8,15,22-tertrakis(2,4-dimethylpent-3-oxy)phthalocyanine (H₂ TdMPPc), was used to synthesize Tb³⁺ -phthalocyanine double-decker complexes ([Tb(TdMPPc)₂ ]s). Because H₂ TdMPPc has C_4h symmetry, S,S, R,R, and meso isomers of [Tb(TdMPPc)₂ ] were obtained depending on the difference in the direction of the coordination plane of two C_4h -type phthalocyanines with respect to a central Tb³⁺ ion. We investigated the physical properties of these [Tb(TdMPPc)₂ ] isomers, including their single-ion magnetic properties, and found that the spin-reversal energy barrier (U_eff ) of the meso isomer was apparently higher than that of the enantiomers. Detailed crystal structural analyses indicated that the meso isomer has a more symmetrical structure than do the enantiomers, thereby suggesting that the higher U_eff of the meso isomer originated from the more highly symmetrical structure.

A Ferroelectric Metallomesogen Exhibiting Field-Induced Slow Magnetic Relaxation

Magnetoelectric (ME) materials exhibiting coupled electric and magnetic properties are of significant interest because of their potential use in memory storage devices, new sensors, or low-consumption devices. Herein, we report a new category of ME material that shows liquid crystal (LC), ferroelectric (FE), and field-induced single molecule magnet (SMM) behaviors. Co(II) complex incorporating alkyl chains of type [Co(3C₁₆ -bzimpy)₂ ](BF₄ )₂ (1; 3C₁₆ -bzimpy=2,2'-(4-hexadecyloxy-2,6-diyl)bis(1-hexadecyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole)) displayed a chiral smectic C mesophase in the temperature range 321 K-458 K, in which distinct FE behavior was observed, with a remnant polarization (88.3 nC cm^-2 ). Complex 1 also exhibited field-induced slow magnetic relaxation behavior that reflects the large magnetic anisotropy of the Co(II) center. Furthermore, the dielectric property of 1 was able to be tuned by an external magnetic field occurring from both spin-lattice coupling and molecular orientational variation. Clearly, this multifunctional compound, combining LC, FE, and SMM properties, represents an entry to the development of a range of next-generation ME materials.

Elucidation of Dual Magnetic Relaxation Processes in Dinuclear Dysprosium(III) Phthalocyaninato Triple-Decker Single-Molecule Magnets Depending on the Octacoordination Geometry

When applying single-molecule magnets (SMMs) to spintronic devices, control of the quantum tunneling of the magnetization (QTM) as well as a spin-lattice interactions are important. Attempts have been made to use not only coordination geometry but also magnetic interactions between SMMs as an exchange bias. In this manuscript, dinuclear dysprosium(III) (Dy^III ) SMMs with the same octacoordination geometry undergo dual magnetic relaxation processes at low temperature. In the dinuclear Dy^III phthalocyaninato (Pc^2- ) triple-decker type complex [(Pc)Dy(ooPc)Dy(Pc)] (1) (ooPc^2- =2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(octyloxy)phthalocyaninato) with a square-antiprismatic (SAP) geometry, the ground state is divided by the Zeeman effect, and level intersection occurs when a magnetic field is applied. Due to the ground state properties of 1, since the Zeeman diagram where the levels intersect in an H_dc of 2500 Oe, two kinds of QTM and direct processes occur. However, dinuclear Dy^III -Pc systems with C₄ geometry, which have a twist angle (ϕ) of less than 45° do not undergo dual magnetic relaxation processes. From magnetic field and temperature dependences, the dual magnetic relaxation processes were clarified.

Single-molecule-magnet behavior in the family of [Ln(OETAP)2] double-decker complexes (Ln=lanthanide, OETAP=octa(ethyl)tetraazaporphyrin)

Double-decker complexes of lanthanide cations can be readily prepared with tetraazaporphyrins (porphyrazines). We have synthesized and characterized a series of neutral double-decker complexes [Ln(OETAP)2 ] (Ln=Tb(3+), Dy(3+), Gd(3+), Y(3+); OETAP=octa(ethyl)tetraazaporphyrin). Some of these complexes show analogous magnetic features to their phthalocyanine (Pc) counterparts. The Tb(3+) and Dy(3+) derivatives exhibit single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior with high blocking temperatures over 50 and 10 K, respectively. These results confirm that, in double-decker complexes that involve Tb or Dy, the (N4)2 square antiprism coordination mode has an important role in inducing very large activation energies for magnetization reversal. In contrast with their Pc counterparts, the use of tetraazaporphyrin ligands endows the presented [Ln(OETAP)2] complexes with extraordinary chemical versatility. The double-decker complexes that exhibit SMM behavior are highly soluble in common organic solvents, and easily processable even through sublimation.