Phosphine Oxide Ligand Based Tetrahedral CoII Complexes with Field-induced Slow Magnetic Relaxation Behavior Modified by Terminal Ligands

Cobalt(II) Single-Ion Magnet Coordinated by Double Deprotonation of 2,2'-Bipyridine-6,6'-diol Ligands

In this study, we synthesized a new Co(II) complex, [NMe4]2[Co(bpyO2)2] (1), using deprotonated 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-diol ligands (bpyO2 2-). This compound exhibits a significant zero-field splitting (D) value. The far-infrared magneto spectroscopy and high-frequency and field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) measurements indicated that compound 1 possesses D = -54.8 cm-1 and E ∼ 0 cm-1. These findings were subsequently confirmed by other experimental data, including DC magnetic susceptibilities and variable temperature and variable magnetic field reduced magnetizations. Additionally, we conducted a series of AC magnetic susceptibility measurements to investigate the kinetics of magnetization relaxation. Below 6.6 K and under zero external magnetic field, fast quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM) dominates (∼570 Hz), and temperature-independent out-of-phase signals are observed. Above 8.1 K, temperature-dependent behavior is observed. Furthermore, we examined the AC magnetic susceptibility behavior under external magnetic fields ranging from 300 to 4000 G. The effect of QTM is significantly reduced in the presence of an external magnetic field. Temperature-dependent behavior is primarily governed by Raman relaxation. Through structural analysis of compound 1 and a series of pure nitrogen-coordinated single-ion magnets (SIMs), we propose that the oxo substituents from the double-deprotonated form of the 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-diol ligands donate their negative charge to the pyridine ring, forming amido anion sites. This triggers a more pronounced out-of-phase signal than that observed in pure pyridine-coordinated compounds. Moreover, we observed intermolecular interactions, including intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which, to some extent, influenced the slow relaxation of molecules. Therefore, we speculate that the slow relaxation phenomenon of compound 1 may be attributed to the combination of oxo back-donating effects and intermolecular interactions.

Co(II) single-ion magnets: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

Magnetoactive coordination compounds exhibiting bi- or multistability between two or more magnetic stable states present an attractive example of molecular switches. Currently, the research is focused on molecular nanomagnets, especially single molecule magnets (SMMs), which are molecules, where the slow relaxation of the magnetization based on the purely molecular origin is observed. Contrary to ferromagnets, the magnetic bistability of SMMs does not require intermolecular interactions, which makes them particularly interesting in terms of application potential, especially in the high-density storage of data. This paper aims to introduce the readers into a basic understanding of SMM behaviour, and furthermore, it provides an overview of the attractive Co(II) SMMs with emphasis on the relation between structural features, magnetic anisotropy, and slow relaxation of magnetization in tetra-, penta-, and hexacoordinate complexes.

Magnetic anisotropy of two tetrahedral Co(II)-halide complexes with triphenylphosphine ligands

Recently, the choice of ligand and geometric control of mononuclear complexes, which can affect the relaxation pathways and blocking temperature, have received wide attention in the field of single-ion magnets (SIMs). To find out the influence of the coordination environment on SIMs, two four-coordinate mononuclear Co(II) complexes [NEt₄][Co(PPh₃)X₃] (X = Cl^-, 1; Br^-, 2) have been synthesized and studied by X-ray single crystallography, magnetic measurements, high-frequency and -field EPR (HF-EPR) spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Both complexes are in a cubic space group Pa3̄ (No. 205), containing a slightly distorted tetrahedral moiety with crystallographically imposed C_3v symmetry through the [Co(PPh₃)X₃]^- anion. The direct-current (dc) magnetic data and HF-EPR spectroscopy indicated the anisotropic S = 3/2 spin ground states of the Co(II) ions with the easy-plane anisotropy for 1 and 2. Ab initio calculations were performed to confirm the positive magnetic anisotropies of 1 and 2. Frequency- and temperature-dependent alternating-current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed slow magnetic relaxation for 1 and 2 at an applied dc field. Finally, the magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were compared to those of other Co(II) complexes with a [CoAB₃] moiety.

A systematic study of the influence of ligand field on the slow magnetic dynamics of Co(ii)-diimine compounds

Herein we report heteroleptic Co(ii) diimine complexes [Co(H₂bip)₂Cl₂] (1), [Co(H₂bip)₂Br₂] (2), [Co(H₂bip)₃]Br₂·1MeOH (3) and [Co(H₂bip)₂(Me₂bpy)]Br₂·(MeCN)_0.5·(H₂O)_0.25 (4) (H₂bip = 2,2'-bi-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine, bpy = 2,2'-dipyridyl, Me₂bpy = 4,4'-Me-2,2'-dipyridyl), purposefully prepared to enable a systematic study of magnetic property changes arising from the increase of overall ligand field from σ/π-donor chlorido (1) to π-acceptor 4,4'Me-2,2'bpy (4). The presence of axial and rhombic anisotropy (D and E) of these compounds is sufficient to allow 1-4 to show field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization. Interestingly, we found as the effective ligand field is increased in the series, rhombicity (E/D) decreases, and the magnetic relaxation profile changes significantly, where relaxation of magnetization at a specific temperature becomes gradually faster. We performed mechanistic analyses of the temperature dependence of magnetic relaxation times considering Orbach relaxation processes, Raman-like relaxation and quantum tunnelling of magnetization (QTM). The effective energy barrier of the Orbach relaxation process (U_eff) is largest in compound 1 (19.2 cm^-1) and gradually decreases in the order 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 giving a minimum value in compound 4 (8.3 cm^-1), where the Raman-like mechanism showed the possibility of different types of phonon activity below and above ∼2.5 K. As a precursor of 1, the tetrahedral complex [Co(H₂bip)Cl₂] (1a) was also synthesized and structurally and magnetically characterized: this compound exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization under an applied dc field (1800 Oe) with a record slow relaxation time of 3.39 s at 1.8 K.

Zero-field slow relaxation of magnetization in cobalt(ii) single-ion magnets: suppression of quantum tunneling of magnetization by tailoring the intermolecular magnetic coupling

The correlation between magnetic relaxation dynamics and the alignment of single-ion magnets (SIMs) in a crystal was investigated using four analogous cobalt(ii) complexes with unique hydrogen-bond networks. The hydrogen-bonding interactions in the crystals resulted in a relatively short intermolecular Co⋯Co distance, which led to non-zero intermolecular magnetic coupling. All the complexes with a Co⋯Co distance shorter than 6.5 Å exhibited zero-field slow magnetic relaxation as weak magnetic interactions split the ground ±M_s levels and suppressed quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM). In particular, antiferromagnetically coupled one-dimensional chain SIM networks effectively suppressed QTM when the two intrachain Co⋯Co distances were non-equivalent. However, when the two distances in a chain were equivalent and each molecular symmetry axis aligned parallell within the chain, QTM suppression was insufficient because magnetic coupling from the adjacent molecules was virtually cancelled. Partial substitution of the Co^II ion with the diamagnetic Zn^II ion up to 33% for this complex resulted in complete QTM suppression in the absence of an external field. These results show that the manipulation of intermolecular distances and alignments is effective for suppressing undesired QTM events in SIMs.

Quenching of quantum tunneling of magnetization was observed in a tetrahedral cobalt(ii) complex with 1-D chain hydrogen-bond networks by partially substituting the Co^II ion with the Zn^II ion, up to 33%.

A slowly magnetic relaxing SmIII monomer with a D5h equatorial compressed ligand field

A D_5h equatorial compressed ligand field of the central Ln^III ion is achieved. The samarium complex is the first Sm^III mono-nuclear complex with slow magnetic relaxation. The Dy^III analogue, in contrast, relaxes much faster

Entrapment of a Pseudo-Tetrahedral CoII Center by Thioether Sulfur Bound {Co2 (μ-L)} Fragments: Synthesis, Field-Induced Single-Ion Magnetism and Catechol Oxidase Mimicking Activity

Simultaneous incorporation of both Co^II and Co^III ions within a new thioether S-bearing phenol-based ligand system, H₃ L (2,6-bis-[{2-(2-hydroxyethylthio)ethylimino}methyl]-4-methylphenol) formed [Co₅ ] aggregates [Co^II Co^III ₄ L₂ (μ-OH)₂ (μ_1,3 -O₂ CCH₃ )₂ ](ClO₄ )₄ ⋅H₂ O (1) and [Co^II Co^III ₄ L₂ (μ-OH)₂ (μ_1,3 -O₂ CC₂ H₅ )₂ ](ClO₄ )₄ ⋅H₂ O (2). The magnetic studies revealed axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter, D/hc=-23.6 and -24.3 cm^-1 , and E/D=0.03 and 0.00, respectively for 1 and 2. Dynamic magnetic data confirmed the complexes as SIMs with U_eff /k_B =30 K (1) and 33 K (2), and τ₀ =9.1×10^-8  s (1), and 4.3×10^-8  s (2). The larger atomic radius of S compared to N gave rise to less variation in the distortion of tetrahedral geometry around central Co^II centers, thus affecting the D and U_eff /k_B values. Theoretical studies also support the experimental findings and reveal the origin of the anisotropy parameters. In solutions, both 1 and 2 which produce {Co^III ₂ (μ-L)} units, display solvent-dependent catechol oxidation behavior toward 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol in air. The presence of an adjacent Co^III ion tends to assist the electron transfer from the substrate to the metal ion center, enhancing the catalytic oxidation rate.