Insight into the Electronic Structure of Formal Lanthanide(II) Complexes using Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy

Understanding covalency in molecular f-block compounds from the synergy of spectroscopy and quantum chemistry

One of the most intensely studied areas of f-block chemistry is the nature of the bonds between the f-element and another species, and in particular the role played by covalency. Computational quantum chemical methods have been at the forefront of this research for decades and have a particularly valuable role, given the radioactivity of the actinide series. The very strong agreement that has recently emerged between theory and the results of a range of spectroscopic techniques not only facilitates deeper insight into the experimental data, but it also provides confidence in the conclusions from the computational studies. These synergies are shining new light on the nature of the f element-other element bond.

Magnetic Circular Dichroism Elucidates Molecular Interactions in Aggregated Chiral Organic Materials

Chiral materials formed by aggregated organic compounds play a fundamental role in chiral optoelectronics, photonics and spintronics. Nonetheless, a precise understanding of the molecular interactions involved remains an open problem. Here we introduce magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) as a new tool to elucidate molecular interactions and structural parameters of a supramolecular system. A detailed analysis of MCD together with electronic circular dichroism spectra combined to ab initio calculations unveils essential information on the geometry and energy levels of a self-assembled thin film made of a carbazole di-bithiophene chiral molecule. This approach can be extended to a generality of chiral organic materials and can help rationalizing the fundamental interactions leading to supramolecular order. This in turn could enable a better understanding of structure-property relationships, resulting in a more efficient material design.

Tuning of the antiferromagnetic-type interaction in photo-excited single-decker porphyrin-lanthanide complexes with different crown capping ligands

The magnetic interaction between the total angular momentum (J) of the 4f electrons in a lanthanide ion and the orbital angular momentum (L) of a porphyrin in the photo-excited states of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato Dy(III) complexes capped with a crown ether with one of two different symmetries, 12-crown-4 or 1-aza-12-crown-4, was investigated by temperature- and magnetic dependent magnetic circular dichroism (VT-VH MCD). The analysis was conducted on the complexes with different non-aromatic ligands to investigate how different symmetries of the non-aromatic ligands have an impact on the electronic interaction causing an anti-parallel orientation of J and L. The magnitude of the J-L interaction was determined from simulation-based fitting to experimental ratios. While in both cases an antiferromagnetic-type interaction between J and L was identified, an asymmetric non-aromatic ligand resulted in an increased magnitude of the J-L interaction.

Toward Magneto-Optical Cryogenic Thermometers with High Sensitivity: A Magnetic Circular Dichroism Based Thermometric Approach

Remote temperature probing at the cryogenic range is of utmost importance for the advancement of future quantum technologies. Despite the notable achievements in luminescent thermometers, accurately measuring temperatures below 10 K remains a challenging endeavor. In this study, we propose a novel magneto-optical thermometric approach based on the magnetic-circular dichroism (MCD) technique, which offers unprecedented capabilities for meticulous temperature variation analysis at cryogenic temperatures. The inherent temperature sensitivity of the MCD C-term, in conjunction with both positive and negative signals, enables highly sensitive magneto-optical temperature probing. Additionally, a groundbreaking relative thermal sensitivity value of 95.3 % K-1 at 2.54 K can be achieved using a mononuclear lanthanide complex, [[Ho(acac)3 (phen)], in the presence of a 0.25 T applied magnetic field and using a combination of multiparametric thermal read-out with multiple regression. These results unequivocally demonstrate the viability and effectiveness of our methodology for cryogenic temperature sensing.

Property-optimized Gaussian basis sets for lanthanides

Property-optimized Gaussian basis sets of split-valence, triple-zeta valence, and quadruple-zeta valence quality are developed for the lanthanides Ce-Lu for use with small-core relativistic effective core potentials. They are constructed in a systematic fashion by augmenting def2 orbital basis sets with diffuse basis functions and minimizing negative static isotropic polarizabilities of lanthanide atoms with respect to basis set exponents within the unrestricted Hartree-Fock method. The basis set quality is assessed using a test set of 70 molecules containing the lanthanides in their common oxidation states and f electron occupations. 5d orbital occupation turns out to be the determining factor for the basis set convergence of polarizabilities in lanthanide atoms and the molecular test set. Therefore, two series of property-optimized basis sets are defined. The augmented def2-SVPD, def2-TZVPPD, and def2-QZVPPD basis sets balance the accuracy of polarizabilities across lanthanide oxidation states. The relative errors in atomic and molecular polarizability calculations are ≤8% for augmented split-valence basis sets, ≤ 2.5% for augmented triple-zeta valence basis sets, and ≤1% for augmented quadruple-zeta valence basis sets. In addition, extended def2-TZVPPDD and def2-QZVPPDD are provided for accurate calculations of lanthanide atoms and neutral clusters. The property-optimized basis sets developed in this work are shown to accurately reproduce electronic absorption spectra of a series of LnCp₃ ^'- complexes (Cp' = C₅H₄SiMe₃, Ln = Ce-Nd, Sm) with time-dependent density functional theory.

Lanthanoid Complexes as Molecular Materials: The Redox Approach

The development of molecular materials with novel functionality offers promise for technological innovation. Switchable molecules that incorporate redox-active components are enticing candidate compounds due to their potential for electronic manipulation. Lanthanoid metals are most prevalent in their trivalent state and usually redox-activity in lanthanoid complexes is restricted to the ligand. The unique electronic and physical properties of lanthanoid ions have been exploited for various applications, including in magnetic and luminescent materials as well as in catalysis. Lanthanoid complexes are also promising for applications reliant on switchability, where the physical properties can be modulated by varying the oxidation state of a coordinated ligand. Lanthanoid-based redox activity is also possible, encompassing both divalent and tetravalent metal oxidation states. Thus, utilization of redox-active lanthanoid metals offers an attractive opportunity to further expand the capabilities of molecular materials. This review surveys both ligand and lanthanoid centered redox-activity in pre-existing molecular systems, including tuning of lanthanoid magnetic and photophysical properties by modulating the redox states of coordinated ligands. Ultimately the combination of redox-activity at both ligands and metal centers in the same molecule can afford novel electronic structures and physical properties, including multiconfigurational electronic states and valence tautomerism. Further targeted exploration of these features is clearly warranted, both to enhance understanding of the underlying fundamental chemistry, and for the generation of a potentially important new class of molecular material.

C-Term magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy in paramagnetic transition metal and f-element organometallic chemistry

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy is a powerful experiment used to probe the electronic structure and bonding in paramagnetic metal-based complexes. While C-term MCD spectroscopy has been utilized in many areas of chemistry, it has been underutilized in studying paramagnetic organometallic transition metal and f-element complexes. From the analysis of isolated organometallic complexes to the study of in situ generated species, MCD can provide information regarding ligand interactions, oxidation and spin state, and geometry and coordination environment of paramagnetic species. The pratical aspects of this technique, such as air-free sample preparation and cryogenic experimental temperatures, allow for the study of highly unstable species, something that is often difficult with other spectroscopic techniques. This perspective highlights MCD studies of both transition metal and f-element organometallic complexes, including in situ generated reactive intermediates, to demonstrate the utility of this technique in probing electronic structure, bonding and mechanism in paramagnetic organometallic chemistry.

Distinct electronic structures and bonding interactions in inverse-sandwich samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes

Inverse-sandwich samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes were synthesized by the reduction of their trivalent halide precursors with potassium graphite in the presence of biphenyl. While the samarium complex had a similar structure as previously reported rare earth metal biphenyl complexes, with the two samarium ions bound to the same phenyl ring, the ytterbium counterpart adopted a different structure, with the two ytterbium ions bound to different phenyl rings. Upon the addition of crown ether to encapsulate the potassium ions, the inverse-sandwich samarium biphenyl structure remained intact; however, the ytterbium biphenyl structure fell apart with the concomitant formation of a divalent ytterbium crown ether complex and potassium biphenylide. Spectroscopic and computational studies were performed to gain insight into the electronic structures and bonding interactions of these samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes. While the ytterbium ions were found to be divalent with a 4f¹⁴ electron configuration and form a primarily ionic bonding interaction with biphenyl dianion, the samarium ions were in the trivalent state with a 4f⁵ electron configuration and mainly utilized the 5d orbitals to form a δ-type bonding interaction with the π* orbitals of the biphenyl tetraanion, showing covalent character.

Inverse-sandwich samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Combined experimental and computational studies indicated that they have distinct electronic structures and bonding interactions.