Design of a Binuclear Ni(II) Complex with Large Ising-type Anisotropy and Weak Anti-Ferromagnetic Coupling

Ligand field design enables quantum manipulation of spins in Ni2+ complexes

Creating the next generation of quantum systems requires control and tunability, which are key features of molecules. To design these systems, one must consider the ground-state and excited-state manifolds. One class of systems with promise for quantum sensing applications, which require water solubility, are d8 Ni2+ ions in octahedral symmetry. Yet, most Ni2+ complexes feature large zero-field splitting, precluding manipulation by commercial microwave sources due to the relatively large spin-orbit coupling constant of Ni2+ (630 cm-1). Since low lying excited states also influence axial zero-field splitting, D, a combination of strong field ligands and rigidly held octahedral symmetry can ameliorate these challenges. Towards these ends, we performed a theoretical and computational analysis of the electronic and magnetic structure of a molecular qubit, focusing on the impact of ligand field strength on D. Based on those results, we synthesized 1, [Ni(ttcn)2](BF4)2 (ttcn = 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane), which we computationally predict will have a small D (Dcalc = +1.15 cm-1). High-field high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data yield spin Hamiltonian parameters: gx = 2.1018(15), gx = 2.1079(15), gx = 2.0964(14), D = +0.555(8) cm-1 and E = +0.072(5) cm-1, which confirm the expected weak zero-field splitting. Dilution of 1 in the diamagnetic Zn analogue, [Ni0.01Zn0.99(ttcn)2](BF4)2 (1') led to a slight increase in D to ∼0.9 cm-1. The design criteria in minimizing D in 1via combined computational and experimental methods demonstrates a path forward for EPR and optical addressability of a general class of S = 1 spins.

Chemical tuning of spin clock transitions in molecular monomers based on nuclear spin-free Ni(ii)

We report the existence of a sizeable quantum tunnelling splitting between the two lowest electronic spin levels of mononuclear Ni complexes. The level anti-crossing, or magnetic "clock transition", associated with this gap has been directly monitored by heat capacity experiments. The comparison of these results with those obtained for a Co derivative, for which tunnelling is forbidden by symmetry, shows that the clock transition leads to an effective suppression of intermolecular spin-spin interactions. In addition, we show that the quantum tunnelling splitting admits a chemical tuning via the modification of the ligand shell that determines the crystal field and the magnetic anisotropy. These properties are crucial to realize model spin qubits that combine the necessary resilience against decoherence, a proper interfacing with other qubits and with the control circuitry and the ability to initialize them by cooling.

Semiquinone radical-bridged M2 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) complexes with strong magnetic exchange giving rise to slow magnetic relaxation

The use of radical bridging ligands to facilitate strong magnetic exchange between paramagnetic metal centers represents a key step toward the realization of single-molecule magnets with high operating temperatures. Moreover, bridging ligands that allow the incorporation of high-anisotropy metal ions are particularly advantageous. Toward these ends, we report the synthesis and detailed characterization of the dinuclear hydroquinone-bridged complexes [(Me6tren)2MII 2(C6H4O2 2-)]2+ (Me6tren = tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl)amine; M = Fe, Co, Ni) and their one-electron-oxidized, semiquinone-bridged analogues [(Me6tren)2MII 2(C6H4O2 -˙)]3+. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the Me6tren ligand restrains the metal centers in a trigonal bipyramidal geometry, and coordination of the bridging hydro- or semiquinone ligand results in a parallel alignment of the three-fold axes. We quantify the p-benzosemiquinone-transition metal magnetic exchange coupling for the first time and find that the nickel(ii) complex exhibits a substantial J < -600 cm-1, resulting in a well-isolated S = 3/2 ground state even as high as 300 K. The iron and cobalt complexes feature metal-semiquinone exchange constants of J = -144(1) and -252(2) cm-1, respectively, which are substantially larger in magnitude than those reported for related bis(bidentate) semiquinoid complexes. Finally, the semiquinone-bridged cobalt and nickel complexes exhibit field-induced slow magnetic relaxation, with relaxation barriers of U eff = 22 and 46 cm-1, respectively. Remarkably, the Orbach relaxation observed for the Ni complex is in stark contrast to the fast processes that dominate relaxation in related mononuclear NiII complexes, thus demonstrating that strong magnetic coupling can engender slow magnetic relaxation.

Slow Magnetic Relaxation in Dinuclear CoIIYIII Complexes

Four new dinuclear complexes, [Co(μ-L)(μ-CCl₃COO)Y(NO₃)₂]·2CHCl₃·CH₃CN·2H₂O (1), [Co(μ-L)(μ-CH₃COO)Y(NO₃)₂]·CH₃CN (2), [Co(μ-L)(μ-PhCOO)Y(NO₃)₂]·3CH₃CN·2H₂O (3), and [Co(μ-L)(μ-^tBuCOO)Y(NO₃)₂]·CHCl₃·2H₂O (4), having a Co^IIY^III core, have been synthesized by employing a ferrocene based compartmental ligand which was synthesized by the reaction of diacetyl ferrocene with hydrazine hydrate followed by a condensation reaction with o-vanillin. A general synthetic protocol was employed to synthesize complexes 1-4, where the metallic core was kept the same with changing the bridging carboxylate groups. In all the complexes, the main structural motif is kept similar by only slightly varying the substitution on the bridging acetate groups. This variation has resulted in a small but subtle influence on the magnetic relaxation of all these four compounds. Ab initio CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations were carried out to assess the effect of the different substitutions of the bridging ligands on the magnetic anisotropy parameters and on orbital arrangements. Ab initio calculations yield a very large positive D value, which is consistent with the geometry around the Co^II ion and easy plane anisotropy (g_xx, g_yy > g_zz), with the order of the calculated D in the range of 72.4 to 91.7 cm^-1 being estimated in this set of complexes. To ascertain the sign of zero-field splitting in these complexes, EPR spectra were recorded, which support the sign of D values estimated from ab initio calculations.

Effect of Low Spin Excited States for Magnetic Anisotropy of Transition Metal Mononuclear Single Molecule Magnets

Rational, fine tuning of magnetic anisotropy is critical to obtain new coordination compounds with enhanced single molecule magnet properties. For mononuclear transition metal complexes, the largest contribution to zero-field splitting is usually related to the excited states of the same spin as the ground level. Thus, the contribution of lower multiplicity roots tends to be overlooked due to its lower magnitude. In this article, we explore the role of lower multiplicity excited states in zero-field splitting parameters in model structures of Fe(II) and Co(II). Model aquo complexes with coordination numbers ranging from 2 to 6 were constructed. The magnetic anisotropy was calculated by state of the art ab initio methodologies, including spin-orbit coupling effects. For non-degenerate ground states, contributions to the zero-field splitting parameter (D) from highest and lower multiplicity roots were of the same sign. In addition, their relative magnitude was in a relatively narrow range, irrespective of the coordination geometry. For degenerate ground states, the contribution from lower multiplicity roots was significantly smaller. Results are rationalized in terms of general expressions for D and are expected to be reasonably transferable to real molecular systems.