Sublimable Single Ion Magnets Based on Lanthanoid Quinolinate Complexes: The Role of Intermolecular Interactions on Their Thermal Stability

A single-ion magnet building block strategy toward Dy2 single-molecule magnets with enhanced magnetic performance

A molecular dysprosium(III) complex [Dy(DClQ)₃(H₂O)₂] (1) was used as a building unit for the construction of lanthanide SMMs, leading to the isolation of two dinuclear Dy(III) complexes, namely [Dy₂(DClQ)₆(MeOH)₂] (2) and [Dy₂(DClQ)₆(bpmo)₂]·6MeCN (3) (DClQ = 5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxyquinoline, bpmo = 4,4'-dipyridine-oxide). Structural analyses revealed the same N₃O₅ coordination environment of the Dy(III) centers with a distorted biaugmented trigonal prism (C_2V symmetry) and triangular dodecahedron (D_2d symmetry) for 2 and 3, respectively. Magnetic studies revealed the presence of ferromagnetic and weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the Dy³⁺ centers in 2 and 3, respectively. Interestingly, slow relaxation of magnetization at zero fields was evidenced with an U_eff of 51.4 K and 159.0 K for complexes 2 and 3, respectively. The detailed analysis of relaxation dynamics discloses that the Orbach process is dominant for 2 whereas Raman and QTM play an important role in 3. Theoretical calculations were carried out to provide insight into the magnetic exchange interactions and relaxation dynamics for the complexes. Due to a single-ion magnet (SIM) of 1, the foregoing results demonstrate a SIM modular synthetic route for the preparation of dinuclear lanthanide SMMs.

Pentacoordinate Cobalt(II) Single Ion Magnets with Pendant Alkyl Chains: Shall We Go for Chloride or Bromide?

Four pentacoordinate complexes 1-4 of the type [Co(L1)X2] and [Co(L2)X2] (where L1=2,6-bis(1-octyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine for 1 and 2, L2=2,6-bis(1-dodecyl-1H-benzimidazol -2-yl)-pyridine for 3 and 4; X = Cl- for 1 and 3, X...

An Azido-Bridged Dysprosium Chain Complex Showing Zero-field Slow Magnetic Relaxation

A one-dimensional (1D) azido-bridged dysprosium coordination polymer featuring a zig-zag chain structure constructed from a halogen-functionalized quinoline derivative and N₃ ^- ligands was structurally and magnetically characterized. Magnetic studies revealed that the chain complex exhibits zero-field slow magnetic relaxation and a significant butterfly-like hysteresis loop, originating from highly magnetic anisotropy of the Dy³⁺ ions in a D_4d symmetry. This compound represents the first azido-bridged lanthanide chain showing zero-field slow magnetic relaxation behavior. These results highlight that the combination of high symmetric Ln³⁺ ions with the versatile azido bridging ligand provides an effective approach for the design and construction of advanced lanthanides molecular magnets.

Mononuclear Dysprosium Alkoxide and Aryloxide Single-Molecule Magnets

Recent studies have shown that mononuclear lanthanide (Ln) complexes can be high‐performing single‐molecule magnets (SMMs). Recently, there has been an influx of mononuclear Ln alkoxide and aryloxide SMMs, which have provided the necessary geometrical control to improve SMM properties and to allow the intricate relaxation dynamics of Ln SMMs to be studied in detail. Here non‐aqueous Ln alkoxide and aryloxide chemistry applied to the synthesis of low‐coordinate mononuclear Ln SMMs are reviewed. The focus is on mononuclear Dy^III alkoxide and aryloxide SMMs with coordination numbers up to eight, covering synthesis, solid‐state structures and magnetic attributes. Brief overviews are also provided of mononuclear Tb^III, Ho^III, Er^III and Yb^III alkoxide and aryloxide SMMs.

A magnetic site dilution approach to achieve bifunctional fluorescent thermometers and single-ion magnets

In complex [Na-Dy(μ₂-L)₄]_n(HL = 8-hydroxyquinoline) (1), the DyL₄ units were linked by the Na^I ions to form one-dimensional chains. The chain exhibited slow magnetic relaxation behavior at low temperature, accompanied by obvious quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM). Very weak fluorescence was detected in 1 due to the mismatch of the state energy between Dy^III and the L ligand. Through the magnetic dilution of diamagnetic Y^III ions, complex [NaDy_0.02Y_0.98(μ₂-L)₄]_n (2) was obtained; in 2 the QTM of Dy^III was suppressed and the single ion magnet (SIM) behavior was enhanced. More interestingly, the fluorescence emission of 8-hydroxyquinoline was lightened by the Y^III ions in 2, whose intensity is linearly correlated with the temperature variation. The examples of dual functional fluorescent thermometers and SIM materials are attained simply by ion dilution, achieving the effect of killing two birds with one stone.

Deposition of Tetracoordinate Co(II) Complex with Chalcone Ligands on Graphene

Studying the properties of complex molecules on surfaces is still mostly an unexplored research area because the deposition of the metal complexes has many pitfalls. Herein, we probed the possibility to produce surface hybrids by depositing a Co(II)-based complex with chalcone ligands on chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene by a wet-chemistry approach and by thermal sublimation under high vacuum. Samples were characterized by high-frequency electron spin resonance (HF-ESR), XPS, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and optical microscopy, supported with density functional theory (DFT) and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF)/N-electron valence second-order perturbation theory (NEVPT2) calculations. This compound's rationale is its structure, with several aromatic rings for weak binding and possible favorable π-π stacking onto graphene. In contrast to expectations, we observed the formation of nanodroplets on graphene for a drop-cast sample and microcrystallites localized at grain boundaries and defects after thermal sublimation.

Hybrid organic–inorganic mononuclear lanthanoid single ion magnets

The plasticity of the coordination chemistry of lanthanoid ions has allowed the design and synthesis for the first time of a family of mononuclear hybrid organic–inorganic lanthanoid complexes with slow relaxation of the magnetization.