Dicubane-like tetrameric cobalt(II)-pseudohalide ferromagnetic clusters

A tetracobalt(II) cluster with a two vertex truncated dicubane topology endogenously supported by carboxylate-based (2-pyridyl)methylamine ligands: magneto-structural and DFT studies

A reaction between CoCl2 and L3-(CO2-)2 (2 : 1 stoichiometry) in CH3OH affords a discrete complex [CoII4-{L3-(CO2-)2}2(μ3-OCH3)2(CH3OH)2(H2O)2Cl2] (1) [L3-(CO2-)2 = 3-[N-{2-(pyridin-2-yl)methyl}amino]-bis(propionate)]. The structure of 1 reveals two terminal mononuclear CoII{L3-(CO2-)2}Cl units connected by a dimeric CoII2(μ3-OCH3)2(CH3OH)2(H2O) unit present in the centre through two methoxo (μ3-OCH3)- and two carboxylate (μ-1,1-OCO-) bridges affording a tetranuclear coordination cluster of Co(II) with a defective dicubane topology. In 1, Co1 (terminal) has distorted octahedral CoIIN2O3Cl and the central Co2 has CoIIO6 coordination. Such coordination arrangements afford the observed topology. Variable-temperature magnetic studies reveal anti-ferromagnetic coupling in 1. Three magnetic exchange interactions (one anti-ferromagnetic and two ferromagnetic: J1 = +3.3 cm-1 (Co⋯Co 3.176 Å; μ-1,1-OCO- and μ3-OCH3 bridges), J2 = -2.5 cm-1 (Co⋯Co 3.228 Å; μ-1-OCO- and μ3-OCH3 bridges) and J3 = +10.6 cm-1 (Co⋯Co 3.084 Å; two μ3-OCH3 bridges)) have been identified, with the inclusion of the orbital reduction parameter (α = Aκ = 1.38), spin-orbit coupling (λ = -158 cm-1) and axial distortion (energy gap Δ = -975 cm-1 between singlet and doublet levels), rationalized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

From the {FeIII 2 Ln2 } Butterfly's Perspective: the Magnetic Benefits and Challenges of Cooperativity within 3 d-4 f Based Coordination Clusters

In this Review we discuss the tuning handles which can be used to steer the magnetic properties of Fe^III‐4 f “butterfly” compounds. The majority of presented compounds were produced in the context of project A3 “Di‐ to tetranuclear compounds incorporating highly anisotropic paramagnetic metal ions” within the SFB/TRR88 “3MET”. These contain {Fe^III₂Ln₂} cores encapsulated in ligand shells which are easy to tune in a “test‐bed” system. We identify the following advantages and variables in such systems: (i) the complexes are structurally simple usually with one crystallographically independent Fe^III and Ln^III, respectively. This simplifies theory and anaylsis; (ii) choosing Fe allows ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy to be used as an additional technique which can give information about oxidation levels and spin states, local moments at the iron nuclei and spin‐relaxation and, more importantly, about the anisotropy not only of the studied isotope, but also of elements interacting with this isotope; (iii) isostructural analogues with all the available (i. e. not Pm) 4 f ions can be synthesised, enabling a systematic survey of the influence of the 4 f ion on the electronic structure; (iv) this cluster type is obtained by reacting [Fe^III₃O(O₂CR)₆(L)₃](X) (X=anion, L=solvent such as H₂O, py) with an ethanolamine‐based ligand L′ and lanthanide salts. This allows to study analogues of [Fe^III₂Ln₂(μ₃‐OH)₂(L′)₂(O₂CR)₆] using the appropriate iron trinuclear starting materials. (v) the organic main ligand can be readily functionalised, facilitating a systematic investigation of the effect of organic substituents on the ligands on the magnetic properties of the complexes. We describe and discuss 34 {M^III₂Ln₂} (M=Fe or in one case Al) butterfly compounds which have been reported up to 2020. The analysis of these gives perspectives for designing new SMM systems with specific electronic and magnetic signatures

Synthesis, structure, electrochemistry and magnetism of cobalt-, nickel- and zinc-containing [M4(OH)3(H2O)2(α-SiW10O36.5)2]13- (M = Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+)

Interaction of the trilacunary 9-tungstosilicate [A-α-SiW₉O₃₄]^10- with cobalt(ii), nickel(ii) and zinc(ii) ions in pH 9 aqueous medium at room temperature led to the formation of the respective M₄-containing heteropolytungstates [M₄(OH)₃(H₂O)₂(α-SiW₁₀O_36.5)₂]^13- (M = Co²⁺ (1), Ni²⁺ (2), and Zn²⁺ (3)). Polyanions 1-3 were characterized in the solid state by single-crystal XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. Electrochemical studies showed that the Co²⁺ ions in 1 can be oxidized to Co³⁺ and the CVs of the W^VI centers of the polyanions feature well-defined and chemically reversible reduction waves. Magnetic measurements on 1 and 2 showed paramagnetism with complex ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. A model was presented for extracting the exchange constants for the magnetic exchange interaction.

One-Pot Self-Assembly of Dinuclear, Tetranuclear, and H-Bonding-Directed Polynuclear Cobalt(II), Cobalt(III), and Mixed-Valence Co(II)/Co(III) Complexes of Schiff Base Ligands with Incomplete Double Cubane Core

The reaction of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol (DFMF) with 1-amino-2-propanol (AP) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (THMAM) was investigated in the presence of Cobalt(II) salts, (X = ClO4-, CH3CO2-, Cl-, NO3-), sodium azide (NaN3), and triethylamine (TEA). In one pot, the variation in Cobalt(II) salt results in the self-assembly of dinuclear, tetranuclear, and H-bonding-directed polynuclear coordination complexes of Cobalt(III), Cobalt(II), and mixed-valence CoIICoIII: [Co2III(H2L-1)2(AP-1)(N3)](ClO4)2 (1), [Co4(H2L-1)2(µ3-1,1,1-N3)2(µ-1,1-N3)2Cl2(CH3OH)2]·4CH3OH (2), [Co2IICo2III(HL-2)2(µ-CH3CO2)2(µ3-OH)2](NO3)2·2CH3CH2OH (3), and [Co2IICo2III (H2L12-)2(THMAM-1)2](NO3)4 (4). In 1, two cobalt(III) ions are connected via three single atom bridges; two from deprotonated ethanolic oxygen atoms in the side arms of the ligands and one from the1-amino-2-propanol moiety forming a dinuclear unit with a very short (2.5430(11) Å) Co-Co intermetallic separation with a coordination number of 7, a rare feature for cobalt(III). In 2, two cobalt(II) ions in a dinuclear unit are bridged through phenoxide O and μ3-1,1,1-N3 azido bridges, and the two dinuclear units are interconnected by two μ-1,1-N3 and two μ3-1,1,1-N3 azido bridges generating tetranuclear cationic [Co4(H2L-1)2(µ3-1,1,1-N3)2(µ-1,1-N3)2Cl2(CH3OH)2]2+ units with an incomplete double cubane core, which grow into polynuclear 1D-single chains along the a-axis through H-bonding. In 3, HL2- holds mixed-valent Co(II)/Co(III) ions in a dinuclear unit bridged via phenoxide O, μ-1,3-CH3CO2-, and μ3-OH- bridges, and the dinuclear units are interconnected through two deprotonated ethanolic O in the side arms of the ligands and two μ3-OH- bridges generating cationic tetranuclear [Co2IICo2III(HL-2)2(µ-CH3CO2)2(µ3-OH)2]2+ units with an incomplete double cubane core. In 4, H2L1-2 holds mixed-valent Co(II)/Co(III) ions in dinuclear units which dimerize through two ethanolic O (μ-RO-) in the side arms of the ligands and two ethanolic O (μ3-RO-) of THMAM bridges producing centrosymmetric cationic tetranuclear [Co2IICo2III (H2L1-2)2(THMAM-1)2]4+ units which grow into 2D-sheets along the bc-axis through a network of H-bonding. Bulk magnetization measurements on 2 demonstrate that the magnetic interactions are completely dominated by an overall ferromagnetic coupling occurring between Co(II) ions.

Rare azido and hydroxido bridged tetranuclear Co(ii) complexes of a polynucleating Mannich base ligand with a defect dicubane core: structures, magnetism and phenoxazinone synthase like activity

Triply azido/hydroxido bridged defect dicubane tetranuclear Co(ii) complexes of a Mannich base ligand show ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic coupling and phenoxazinone synthase like activity.

μ1,1-R-phenylcyanamido bridges as a new safe synthetic strategy for ferromagnetic molecular clusters

The reaction of Ni(NO3)2·6H2O with di-2-pyridyl ketone, (py)2CO, and the R-phenylcyanamides 4Cl-3CF3-PhHNCN and 4F-3CF3-PhHNCN in CH3OH or CH3CH2OH allows the isolation of the tetranuclear compounds [(Ni4(μ-py2COOCH3)2(μ3-py2COOH)2(μ1,1-4Cl-3CF3-PhNCN)2(4Cl-3CF3-PhNCN)2]·CH3OH (1), [(Ni4(μ-py2COOCH2CH3)2(μ3-py2COOH)2(μ1,1-4Cl-3CF3-PhNCN)2(4Cl-3CF3-PhNCN)2]·2EtOH (2) and [(Ni4(μ-py2COOCH3)2(μ3-py2COOH)2(μ1,1-4F-3CF3-PhNCN)2(4F-3CF3-PhNCN)2]·4CH3OH (3). {(py)2C(OH)O}(-) and {(py)2C(OR)O}(-) are the monoanions of the gem-diol and hemiketal (R = CH3, CH2CH3) forms of (py)2CO. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals defective double-cubane tetrameric entities in which the Ni(II) atoms are linked by μ1,1-R-phenylcyanamido bridges and two kinds of O-bridges. The molar magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1-3 in the 2-300 K range indicate bulk ferromagnetic coupling.

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of phenylhydroxamate-based coordination clusters

The strategic recombination of preformed coordination clusters in the presence of polymodal bridging ligands has successfully led to the characterisation of five new compounds of structural and magnetic interest. Indeed using the dinuclear complex [M2(H2O)(piv)4(Hpiv)4] (M = Co, Ni; Hpiv = pivalic acid) as starting material and reacting it with phenylhydroxamic acid (H2pha) has yielded the four tetrametallic coordination clusters [Co4(Hpha)2(piv)6(Hpiv)4] (1), [Ni4(Hpha)2(piv)6(Hpiv)2(DMF)2] (2), [Co4(Hpha)2(piv)6(EtOH)2(H2O)2] (3), [Ni4(Hpha)2(piv)6(EtOH)2(H2O)2] (4) and the hexanuclear complex [Co6(Hpha)4(piv)8(EtOH)2]·EtOH (5). All the compounds have been structurally characterised revealing a particular binding mode for the hydroxamate ligand. The study of their magnetic properties has been performed and the modelling of these properties has been done using the appropriate hamiltonians for each compound. The experimental data and their modelling show non-zero spin ground states for compounds 4 and 5.

A semi-flexible aminotriazine-based bis-methylpyridine ligand for the design of nickel(II) spin clusters

The self-assembly of a semi-flexible aminotriazine-based bis-methylpyridine ligand, N(2),N(2)-dibenzyl-N(4),N(6)-di(pyridylmethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (H2L), with NiCl2 and NiBr2 afforded two new nickel(II) clusters, (H2NMe2)2[Ni5(OH)2(H2L)2Cl10] (1) and [Ni6(OH)2(H2L)2Br10(THF)2] (2) showing a high spin ground state of S = 3.

Magnetic analysis of a tetranuclear octahedral high-spin cobalt(ii) complex based on a newly derived magnetic susceptibility equation

Here we report a versatile magnetic susceptibility equation for tetranuclear octahedral high-spin cobalt(ii) complexes and a magnetic analysis for a tetranuclear defect cubane cobalt(ii) complex based on this equation.

Mono- and di-nuclear photoluminescent complexes of zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II) of a chiral diimine ligand

Reaction of α-pyridoin and N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine affords 2-(2-(phenylamino)phenylimino)-1,2-di(pyridin-2-yl)ethanol (L) which undergoes cyclization to a chiral diimine, 2-methoxy-1-phenyl-2,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2-dihydroquinoxaline, L(OMe) (conjugated 14πe system) in the presence of zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II) ions affording [Zn(L(OMe))Cl2] (1), [Cd2(L(OMe))2Cl4] (2) and [Hg2(L(OMe))2Cl4] (3) complexes. Ligand L and complexes 1-3 are substantiated by elemental analyses, mass, IR, (1)H NMR and UV-vis spectra including the single-crystal X-ray structures of 1 and 3. The possibility of the atropisomerism of L is restricted in cyclic L(OMe). L and complexes 1-3 are fluorescent in fluid solutions at 298 K (CH2Cl2: 1, λ(ex) = 470 nm, λ(em) = 627 nm, Φ = 0.014, τ(avg) = 2.5 ns; 2, λ(ex) = 430 nm, λ(em) = 599 nm, Φ = 0.08, τ(avg) = 7.6 ns; 3, λ(ex) = 415 nm, λ(em) = 600 nm, Φ = 0.021, τ(avg) = 2.8 ns). Time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) established that the two-component lifetimes of 1-3 are due to the existence of two conformers. Density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent (TD) DFT calculations authenticated that 1-3 complexes are fluorescent due to intra-ligand charge transfer (ILCT) to the π(diimines)* orbital.

Defective dicubane-like tetranuclear nickel(II) cyanate and azide nanoscale magnets

Four tetrameric nickel(II) pseudohalide complexes have been synthesized and structurally, spectroscopically, and magnetically characterized. Compounds 1-3 are isostructural and exhibit the general formula [Ni(2)(dpk·OH)(dpk·CH(3)O)(L)(H(2)O)](2)A(2)·2H(2)O, where dpk = di-2-pyridylketone; L = N(3)(-), and A = ClO(4)(-) for 1, L = NCO(-) and A = ClO(4)(-) for 2, and L = NCO(-) and A = NO(3)(-) for 3. The formula for 4 is [Ni(4)(dpk·OH)(3) (dpk·CH(3)O)(2)(NCO)](BF(4))(2)·3H(2)O. The ligands dpk·OH(-) and dpk·CH(3)O(-) result from solvolysis and ulterior deprotonation of dpk in water and methanol, respectively. The four tetramers exhibit a dicubane-like core with two missing vertexes where the Ni(II) ions are connected through end-on pseudohalide and oxo bridges. Magnetic measurements showed that compounds 1-4 are ferromagnetic. The values of the exchange constants were determined by means of a theoretical model based on three different types of coupling. Thus, the calculated J values (J(1) = J(2), J(3), and D) were 5.6, 11.8, and 5.6 cm(-1) for 1, 5.5, 12.0, and 5.6 cm(-1) for 2, 6.3, 4.9, and 6.2 cm(-1) for 3, and (J(1), J(2), J(3), and D) 6.9, 7.0, 15.2, and 4.8 cm(-1) for 4.