Large zero-field splittings of the ground spin state arising from antisymmetric exchange effects in heterometallic triangles

Impact of the electric field on isotropic and anisotropic spin Hamiltonian parameters

One may obviously think that the best way to control magnetic properties relies on using a magnetic field. However, it is not convenient to focus a magnetic field on a small object, whereas it is much easier to do so with an electric field. Magnetoelectric coupling allows one to control the magnetization with the electric field and the polarization with the magnetic field and could therefore provide a solution to this problem. This paper aims at quantifying the impact of the electric field on both the isotropic magnetic exchange and the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in the case of a binuclear system of S = 1/2 spins. This study follows previous studies that showed that very high Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, i.e., the antisymmetric exchange, can be generated when close to first order spin orbit coupling. We will, therefore, explore this regime in a model Cu(II) complex that exhibits a quasi-degeneracy of the [Formula: see text] and d xy orbitals. This situation is indeed the one that allows us to obtain the largest spin orbit couplings in transition metal complexes. We will show that both the magnetic exchange and the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction are very sensitive to the electric field and that it would therefore be possible to modulate and control magnetic properties by the electric field. Finally, rationalizations of the obtained results will be proposed.

Enhancing the barrier height for magnetization reversal in 4d/4f RuIII2LnIII2 "butterfly" single molecule magnets (Ln = Gd, Dy) via targeted structural alterations

A series of 4d-4f {RuIII2DyIII2} and {RuIII2GdIII2} 'butterfly' (rhombohedral) complexes have been synthesized and characterized and their magnetic properties investigated. Earlier, we have reported the first 4d/4f SMM - [RuIII2DyIII2(OMe)₂(O₂CPh)₄(mdea)₂(NO₃)₂] (1Dy) with a U_eff value of 10.7 cm^-1. As the structural distortion around the Dy^III centres and the Ru^III⋯Dy^III exchange interactions are key to enhancing the anisotropy, in this work we have synthesised three more {Ru₂Dy₂} butterfly complexes where structural alteration around the Dy^III centres and alterations to the bridging groups are performed with an aim to improve the magnetic properties. The new complexes reported here are [Ru₂Dy₂(OMe)₂(O₂C(4-Me-Ph)₄(mdea)₂(MeOH)₄], 2Dy, [Ru₂Dy₂(OMe)₂(O₂C(2-Cl,4,5-F-Ph)₄(mdea)₂(NO₃)₂], 3Dy, and an acac derivative [Ru₂Dy₂(OMe)₂(acac)₄(NO₃)₂(edea)₂], 4Dy, where acac^- = acetylacetonate, edea^2- = N-ethyldiethanolamine dianion. Complex 2Dy describes alteration in the Dy^III centers, while complexes 3Dy and 4Dy are aimed to alter the Ru^III⋯Dy^III exchange pathways. To ascertain the 4d-4f exchange, the Gd-analogues of 1Dy and 4Dy were synthesised [Ru₂Gd₂(OMe)₂(O₂CPh)₄(mdea)₂(NO₃)₂], 1Gd, [Ru₂Gd₂(OMe)₂(acac)₄(NO₃)₂(edea)₂], 4Gd. Both ac and dc susceptibility studies were performed on all these complexes, and out-of-phase signals were observed for 3Dy in zero-field while 2Dy and 4Dy show out-of-phase signals in the presence of an applied field. Complex 3Dy reveals a barrier height U_eff of 45 K. To understand the difference in the magnetic dynamic behavior compared to our earlier reported {RuIII2DyIII2} analogue, detailed theoretical calculations based on ab initio CASSCF/RASSI-SO calculations have been performed. Calculations reveal that the J_Ru⋯Dy value varies from -1.8 cm^-1 (4Dy) to -2.4 cm^-1 (3Dy). These values are also affirmed by DFT calculations performed on the corresponding Gd^III analogues. The origin of the largest barrier and observation of slow magnetic relaxation in 3Dy is routed back to the stronger single-ion anisotropy and stronger J_Ru⋯Dy exchange which quenches the QTM effects more efficiently. This study thus paves the way forward to tune local structure around the Ln^III center and the exchange pathway to enhance the SMM characteristics in other {3d-4f}/{4d-4f} SMMs.

Cages on a plane: a structural matrix for molecular ‘sheets’

A family of heterometallic Anderson-type ‘wheels’ of general formula [MIII2MII5(hmp)₁₂]⁴⁺ has been extended to include M^III = Cr, Al; M^II = Co, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn, alongside the ‘extended’ [AlIII6CuII7(OH)₁₂(hmp)₁₂]⁸⁺.

N-HO and N-HCl supported 1D chains of heterobimetallic CuII/NiII-SnIV cocrystals

The Schiff base H₂L¹ [N,N'-ethylenebis(3-methoxysalicylaldimine)] or H₂L² [N,N'-ethylenebis(3-ethoxysalicylaldimine)] was reacted with MCl₂·xH₂O and SnCl₄·5H₂O to afford the supramolecular heterobimetallic systems (H₂ED)²⁺·2[ML]·[SnCl₆]^2- [M = Cu, L = L¹ (1), L = L² (2); M = Ni, L = L¹ (3), L = L² (4); ED = 1,2-ethylenediamine], whose structures were established by single crystal X-ray analyses. Each structure includes different entities, viz. a mononuclear [CuL]/[NiL] neutral complex (coformer), a hexachlorostannate dianion [SnCl₆]^2-, a 1,2-ethylenediammonium dication (H₂ED²⁺) and, only in 2 and 4, a methanol molecule. Based on the work of Grothe et al. (Cryst. Growth Des., 2016, 16, 3237-3243), compounds 1 and 3 are cocrystal salts, 2 and 4 are cocrystal salt solvates. The ionic pairs (H₂ED)²⁺·[SnCl₆]^2- in 1-4 are encapsulated by the Cu- or Ni-complexes, and stabilized by N-HO and one N-HCl bond interactions leading to infinite 1D chains. The antimicrobial studies of 1-4 against yeasts (C. albicans and S. cerevisiae) and Gram-positive (S. aureus and E. faecalis) and -negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. coli) indicate that the Ni₂Sn systems (3 and 4) are more active than the analogous Cu₂Sn ones (1 and 2).

Deciphering the origin of giant magnetic anisotropy and fast quantum tunnelling in Rhenium(IV) single-molecule magnets

Single-molecule magnets represent a promising route to achieve potential applications such as high-density information storage and spintronics devices. Among others, 4d/5d elements such as Re(IV) ion are found to exhibit very large magnetic anisotropy, and inclusion of this ion-aggregated clusters yields several attractive molecular magnets. Here, using ab intio calculations, we unravel the source of giant magnetic anisotropy associated with the Re(IV) ions by studying a series of mononuclear Re(IV) six coordinate complexes. The low-lying doublet states are found to be responsible for large magnetic anisotropy and the sign of the axial zero-field splitting parameter (D) can be categorically predicted based on the position of the ligand coordination. Large transverse anisotropy along with large hyperfine interactions opens up multiple relaxation channels leading to a fast quantum tunnelling of the magnetization (QTM) process. Enhancing the Re-ligand covalency is found to significantly quench the QTM process.

Rhenium(IV) complexes are magnetically anisotropic although the origin of this anisotropy is poorly explored compared to 3d transition metals and lanthanides. Here, the authors computationally examine the effects of ligand donor ability and structural distortion on magnetic anisotropy for a series of rhenium(IV) complexes.

Electronic Structure of a Mixed-Metal Fluoride-Centered Triangle Complex: A Potential Qubit Component

A novel fluoride-centered triangular-bridged carboxylate complex, [Ni2Cr(μ3-F)(O2C(t)Bu)6(HO2C(t)Bu)3] (1), is reported. Simple postsynthetic substitution of the terminal pivalic acids in 1 with pyridine and 4-methylpyridine led to the isolation of [Ni2Cr(μ3-F)(O2C(t)Bu)6(C5H5N)3] (2) and [Ni2Cr(μ3-F)(O2C(t)Bu)6((4-CH3)C5H4N)3] (3). Structural and magnetic characterizations carried out on the series reveal a dominating antiferromagnetic interaction between the nickel and chromium centers leading to an S = (1)/2 ground state with a very unusual value of geff = 2.48.

The first 4d/4f single-molecule magnet containing a {RuIII2DyIII2} core

The first 4d–4f single-molecule magnet of formula [Ru^III₂Dy^III₂(OMe)₂(O₂CPh)₄(mdea)₂(NO₃)₂] shows an anisotropy barrier U_eff of 11 cm⁻¹.

Effects of the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in Cr3 triangular spin clusters detected by specific heat and multi-frequency electron spin resonance

An oxo-centered [Cr₃O(O₂C^tBu)₆(H₂O)₃](O₂C^tBu) HO₂C^tBu·2EtOH triangular cluster has been synthesized and its magnetic properties have been studied by means of complementary techniques.