Self-assembly and crystal structure of a novel hetero-octametallic molecular box (Chelate complexes, Part 23)

The {FeIII[FeIII(L1)2]3} star-type single-molecule magnet

Star-shaped complex [Fe(III)[Fe(III)(L1)2]3] (3) was synthesized starting from N-methyldiethanolamine H2L1 (1) and ferric chloride in the presence of sodium hydride. For 3, two different high-spin iron(III) ion sites were confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy at 77 K. Single-crystal X-ray structure determination revealed that 3 crystallizes with four molecules of chloroform, but, with only three molecules of dichloromethane. The unit cell of 3.4CHCl3 contains the enantiomers (delta)-[(S,S)(R,R)(R,R)] and (lambda)-[(R,R)(S,S)(S,S)], whereas in case of 3.3CH2Cl2 four independent molecules, forming pairs of the enantiomers [lambda-(R,R)(R,R)(R,R)]-3 and [lambda-(S,S)(S,S)(S,S)]-3, were observed in the unit cell. According to SQUID measurements, the antiferromagnetic intramolecular coupling of the iron(III) ions in 3 results in a S = 10/2 ground state multiplet. The anisotropy is of the easy-axis type. EPR measurements enabled an accurate determination of the ligand-field splitting parameters. The ferric star 3 is a single-molecule magnet (SMM) and shows hysteretic magnetization characteristics below a blocking temperature of about 1.2 K. However, weak intermolecular couplings, mediated in a chainlike fashion via solvent molecules, have a strong influence on the magnetic properties. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) were used to determine the structural and electronic properties of star-type tetranuclear iron(III) complex 3. The molecules were deposited onto highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Small, regular molecule clusters, two-dimensional monolayers as well as separated single molecules were observed. In our STS measurements we found a rather large contrast at the expected locations of the metal centers of the molecules. This direct addressing of the metal centers was confirmed by DFT calculations.

A Homologous Series of Regioselectively Tetradeprotonated Group 8 Metallocenes: New Inverse Crown Ring Compounds Synthesized via a Mixed Sodium−Magnesium Tris(diisopropylamide) Synergic Base

Subjecting ferrocene, ruthenocene, or osmocene to the synergic amide base sodium-magnesium tris(diisopropylamido) affords a unique homologous series of metallocene derivatives of general formula [(M(C(5)H(3))(2))Na(4)Mg(4)(i-Pr(2)N)(8)] (where M = Fe (1), Ru (2), or Os (3)). X-ray crystallographic studies of 1-3 reveal a common molecular "inverse crown" structure comprising a 16-membered [(NaNMgN)(4)](4+) "host" ring and a metallocenetetraide [M(C(5)H(3))(2)](4-) "guest" core, the cleaved protons of which are lost selectively from the 1, 1', 3, and 3'-positions. Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopic studies indicate that 1, 2, and 3 each exist as two distinct interconverting conformers in arene solution, the rates of exchange of which have been calculated using coalescence and EXSY NMR measurements.

Triangles and tetrahedra: metal directed self-assembly of metallo-supramolecular structures incorporating bis-β-diketonato ligands

The interaction of six aryl-linked bis-beta-diketones, including a new naphthylene linked species, with copper(II), iron(III) and, in one instance gallium(III), has been investigated with the aim of obtaining metallo-supramolecular assemblies exhibiting different geometries. New examples of two assembly types incorporating the above bis-beta-diketones (L) were generated. The first type is represented by a range of molecular triangles of formula [Cu(3)(L-H(2))(3)](solvent)(n) while the second is given by a corresponding selection of less-common neutral molecular tetrahedra of formula [Fe(4)(L-H(2))(6)](solvent)(n) as well as [Ga(4)(L-H(2))(6)].8.5THF.0.5H(2)O; an example of each type has been characterised by X-ray crystallography. A magnetochemical investigation of [Fe(4)(-H(2))(6)].6THF is reported. The susceptibility is Curie like and consistent with very weak coupling occurring between the iron(III) d(5)(high spin) centres. The X-ray structures of two trinuclear copper(II) as well as a tetranuclear iron(III) and a tetranuclear gallium(III) assembly confirm their discrete triangular and tetrahedral geometries, respectively. The structure of the gallium(III) species is closely related to that of the corresponding iron(III) species. The tetrahedral structures provide rare examples of such assemblies encapsulating guest solvent molecules--in each case tetrahydrofuran is incorporated in the central cavity.