Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of heterotrimetallic tetranuclear complexes

Metallocyclic Ni4Ln2M2 single-molecule magnets

Magnetic studies on nine new octanuclear cyclic heterotrimetallic complexes reveal that in comparison with analogous octanuclear complexes [Ni₄Dy₂M₂] (M³⁺ = Fe, W and Co), the [Ni₄Dy₂Cr₂] species show the highest energy barrier and the [Ni₄Tb₂M₂] (M = Cr or Fe) complexes display single-molecule magnetic properties.

Complexation of different transition metals with 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine: Crystal structure, UV spectra and Hirshfeld surfaces

Four new complexes, [Co(dmbpy)2(dca)2]·CH3OH (1), [Ni(dmbpy)2(dca)2]·CH3OH (2), [Zn(dmbpy)2(dca)2]·(3) and [Cu(dmbpy)2(OH)2]·5H2O (4) (dca=dicyanamide), derived from 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, TGA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surfaces analysis revealed that the complexes 1-3 were mainly supported by OH⋯N, CH⋯N and π⋯π intermolecular interactions, and for complex 4, the uncoordinated water molecules play a key role in the construction of the 3D stacking motif. UV spectrum measurements demonstrate that all of the complexes show typical metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption bands between 301 and 306nm. Moreover, after complexation, the absorption maximum bands about intraligand π→π* transitions similarly show slightly red shift compared to dmbpy ligand, consisting with the DFT calculations.

Ligand-directed assembly of trinuclear and one-dimensional heterotrimetallic CuIILnIIIFeIIIcomplexes: unusual antiferromagnetic CuIIFeIIIcoupling via cyano bridges

Rare phenoxo- and cyano-bridged CuLnFe trinuclear complexes were prepared. The 1D Cu₂DyFe complex displays both single-chain magnetic properties and the intrachain Cu(ii)–Fe(iii) antiferromagnetic coupling.

Heterometallic 3d–4f single-molecule magnets

This perspective gives an overview of what researchers want to achieve by preparing 3d–4f single-molecule magnets, the most significant results obtained so far and the challenges still ahead of us.