Mn4 single-molecule-magnet-based polymers of a one-dimensional helical chain and a three-dimensional network: syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetic properties

Two Mn(4) single-molecule-magnet (SMM)-based coordination polymers, {[Mn(4)O(salox)(3)(N(3))(3)(DMF)(2)(H(2)O)(dpp)]·0.5MeOH}(n) (1·0.5MeOH; H(2)salox = salicylaldoxime; dpp = 1,3-di-4-pyridylpropane; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) and {[Mn(4)O(Me-salox)(3)(N(3))(3)(dpp)(1.5)]·1.5Et(2)O}(n) (2·1.5Et(2)O; Me-H(2)salox = hydroxyphenylethanone oxime), are self-assembled from Mn(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O/H(2)salox and Mn(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O/Me-H(2)salox systems with dpp and NaN(3) in DMF/MeOH, respectively. Both compounds comprise a mixed-valence tetranuclear manganese core, [Mn(II)Mn(III)(3)O](9+), which serves as a building unit for subsequent assembly via oximate and azido ligands. The flexible dpp ligand links with a Mn(4) unit, leading to the formation of a one-dimensional helical structure in 1·0.5MeOH and a three-dimensional pcu network in 2·1.5Et(2)O. The magnetic data analysis shows that antiferromagnetic interactions within the Mn(4) units resulted in S = (3)/(2) and (7)/(2) ground states for 1·0.5MeOH and 2·1.5Et(2)O, respectively. Both compounds show SMM behavior, as evidenced by frequency-dependent out-of-phase signals in alternating-current magnetic susceptibility and magnetic hysteresis loop studies with an energy barrier of U(eff) = 37 K for 2·1.5Et(2)O.

Polymetallic clusters of iron(III) with derivatised salicylaldoximes

The synthesis and magnetic properties of the compounds [HNEt(3)][Fe(2)(OMe)(Ph-sao)(2) (Ph-saoH)(2)].5MeOH (1.5MeOH), [Fe(3)O(Et-sao)(O(2)CPh)(5)(MeOH)(2)].3MeOH (2.3MeOH), [Fe(4)(Me-sao)(4)(Me-saoH)(4)] (3), [HNEt(3)](2)[Fe(6)O(2)(Me-sao)(4)(SO(4))(2)(OMe)(4)(MeOH)(2)] (4), [Fe(8)O(3)(Me-sao)(3)(tea)(teaH)(3)(O(2)CMe)(3)] (5), [Fe(8)O(3)(Et-sao)(3)(tea)(teaH)(3)(O(2)CMe)(3)] (6), and [Fe(8)O(3)(Ph-sao)(3)(tea)(teaH)(3)(O(2)CMe)(3)] (7) are reported (Me-saoH(2) is 2'-hydroxyacetophenone oxime, Et-saoH(2) is 2'-hydroxypropiophenone oxime and Ph-saoH(2) is 2-hydroxybenzophenone oxime). 1-7 are the first Fe(III) compounds synthesised using the derivatised salicylaldoxime ligands, R-saoH(2). 1 is prepared by treatment of Fe(2)(SO(4))(3).6H(2)O with Ph-saoH(2) in the presence of NEt(3) in MeOH; 2 prepared by treatment of Fe(ClO(4))(2).6H(2)O with Et-saoH(2) and NaO(2)CPh in the presence of NEt(4)OH in MeOH; 3 prepared by treatment of Fe(ClO(4))(2).6H(2)O with Me-saoH(2) and NaO(2)CCMe(3) in the presence of NEt(4)OH in MeOH; and 4 prepared by treatment of Fe(2)(SO(4))(3).6H(2)O with Me-saoH(2) in the presence of NEt(3) in MeOH. 4 is a rare example of a polynuclear iron complex containing a coordinated SO(4)(2-) ion. Compounds 5-7 are prepared by treatment of Fe(O(2)CMe)(2) with Me-saoH(2) (5), Et-saoH(2) (6), Ph-saoH(2) (7) in the presence of H(3)tea (triethanolamine) in MeOH, and represent the largest nuclearity Fe(III) clusters containing salicyladoxime-based ligands, joining a surprisingly small family of characterised octanuclear Fe complexes. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibilty measurements of 1, 3 and 5-7 reveal all five complexes possess S = 0 spin ground states; 2 possesses an S = 1/2 spin ground state, while 4 has an S = 4 +/- 1 spin ground state.

Spin switching via targeted structural distortion

The deliberate "stepwise" structural distortion of the [MnIII6O2(sao)6(O2CR)2L4] (S = 4, Ueff = 28 K) family of SMMs (where sao2- is the dianion of salicylaldoxime or 2-hydroxybenzaldeyhyde oxime and L = MeOH, EtOH) via the use of derivatized oxime ligands and bulky carboxylates leads to a family of single-molecule magnets with larger spin ground states and enhanced blocking temperatures. Replacing sao2- and HCO2- in the molecule [MnIII6O2(sao)6(O2CH)2(MeOH)4] (1), with Et-sao2- (Et-saoH2 = 2-hydroxypropiophenone oxime) and Me3CCO2- (pivalate), produces the complex [MnIII6O2(Et-sao)6(O2CCMe3)2(EtOH)5] (2) that displays an S = 7 ground state with Ueff = 30 K. Replacing Me3CCO2- with PhCO2- produces the complex [MnIII6O2(Et-sao)6(O2CPh)2(EtOH)4(H2O)2] (3) that displays an S = 12 ground state with Ueff = 53 K. The ligand substitution invokes a subtle structural distortion to the core of the molecule evidenced by an increased "twisting" of the oxime moiety (Mn-N-O-Mn) and a change in carboxylate ligation, which, in turn, invokes a dramatic change in the observed magnetic properties by switching weak antiferromagnetic exchange to weak ferromagnetic exchange.