Half-Integer Spin Triangles: Old Dogs, New Tricks

Spin triangles, that is, triangular complexes of half-integer spins, are the oldest molecular nanomagnets (MNMs). Their magnetic properties have been studied long before molecular magnetism was delineated as a research field. This Review presents the history of their study, with references to the parallel development of new experimental investigations and new theoretical ideas used for their interpretation. It then presents an indicative list of spin-triangle families to illustrate their chemical diversity. Finally, it makes reference to recent developments in terms of theoretical ideas and new phenomena, as well as to the relevance of spin triangles to spintronic devices and new physics.

Interactions between H-bonded [CuII3(μ3-OH)] triangles; a combined magnetic susceptibility and EPR study

X-band EPR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility studies elucidate the magnetic exchange scheme within a triangular CuII3(μ₃-OH) complex and the intermolecular dipolar interactions between two H-bonded CuII3(μ₃-OH) units.

Probing the electronic structure of a copper(ii) complex by CW- and pulse-EPR spectroscopy

The electronic structure of a mononuclear octahedral copper(ii) complex has been studied using CW EPR spectroscopy and other advanced methods including Davies ENDOR and HYSCORE (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopy.

A discrete CuII6 cluster and a 3D MnII–CuII framework based on assembly of Mn2Cu4 clusters: synthesis, structure and magnetic properties

Two new magnetic metal–organic coordination compounds, a 0D Cu₆ cluster and a 3D heterometallic framework with MnII2CuII4 secondary building units are synthesized. Detailed magnetic studies are performed with proper magneto-structural correlation.

Four new trinuclear {Cu3(μ3-OH)(oximate)3}2+ clusters: crystal structure and magnetic behaviour

Four new triangular copper(ii) complexes with the fragment {Cu₃(μ₃-OH)(oximate)₃}²⁺ are reported. They exhibit strong antiferromagnetic coupling and antisymmetric exchange interaction.

pH dependent facile synthesis of di- and trinuclear oxime based Cu(ii) complexes: antiferromagnetic coupling in the dinuclear cores and spin frustration in the triangular core

Two antiferromagnetic dinuclear and one spin frustrated trinuclear cores of oxime based Cu(ii) compounds have been synthesized by changing the pH of the reaction mixtures.

Combining azide, carboxylate, and 2-pyridyloximate ligands in transition-metal chemistry: ferromagnetic Ni(II)5 clusters with a bowtie skeleton

The combined use of the anion of phenyl(2-pyridyl)ketone oxime (ppko(-)) and azides (N(3)(-)) in nickel(II) carboxylate chemistry has afforded two new Ni(II)(5) clusters, [Ni(5)(O(2)CR')(2)(N(3))(4)(ppko)(4)(MeOH)(4)] [R' = H (1), Me (2)]. The structurally unprecedented {Ni(5)(μ-N(3))(2)(μ(3)-N(3))(2)}(6+) cores of the two clusters are almost identical and contain the five Ni(II) atoms in a bowtie topology. Two N(3)(-) ions are end-on doubly bridging and the other two ions end-on triply bridging. The end-on μ(3)-N(3)(-) groups link the central Ni(II) atoms with the two peripheral metal ions on either side of the molecule, while the Ni···Ni bases of the triangles are each bridged by one end-on μ-N(3)(-) group. Variable-temperature, solid-state direct- (dc) and alternating-current (ac) magnetic susceptibility, and magnetization studies at 2.0 K were carried out on both complexes. The data indicate an overall ferromagnetic behavior and an S = 5 ground state for both compounds. The ac susceptibility studies on 1 reveal nonzero, frequency-dependent out-of-phase (χ(M)") signals at temperatures below ~3.5 K; complex 2 reveals no χ(M)" signals. However, single-crystal magnetization versus dc field scans at variable temperatures and variable sweep rates down to 0.04 K on 1 reveal no noticeable hysteresis loops, except very minor ones at 0.04 K assignable to weak intermolecular interactions propagated by nonclassical hydrogen bonds.

Inelastic Neutron Scattering, EPR and Spin Chirality in Spin-Frustrated V3 and Cu3 Nanomagnets with Dzialoshinsky-Moriya Exchange

The inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and EPR transitions are considered for the spin-frustrated V3 and Cu3 nanomagnets. It is shown that the DM exchange and distortions determine the Q-dependence and redistribution of the intensities of the intra- and inter-doublet INS transitions in the 2(S=1/2) states as well as the intensities of the EPR transitions. The peculiarities of the INS and EPR spectra of the V3 ring of V15 quantum molecular magnet and EPR spectra of the V3 and Cu3 nanomagnets are described by the isosceles Heisenberg model with the DM exchange. Spin chirality and spin structure of the Cu3 and V3 nanomagnets with the Dzialoshinsky-Moriya (DM) exchange interaction are analysed in the vector and scalar spin chirality models. The vector chirality model describes the field, orientation and deformation dependence of the spin chirality κn. The spin chirality is formed by the DM interaction and depends on the sign of the DM parameter Gz. The DM exchange and distortions determine the degree of chirality κn<1 in the isosceles clusters.