Asymmetric Assembly of Chiral Lanthanide(III) Tetranuclear Cluster Complexes Using Achiral Mixed Ligands: Single-molecule Magnet Behavior and Magnetic Entropy Change

It is challenging to use achiral ligands to spontaneously construct chiral molecular magnets. In this work, two new Ln4 cluster complexes based on N,N'-(1,3-propanediyl)bis[N-[1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]amine] (H6L) have been assembled, which are crystallized in a chiral space group due to the asymmetric distribution of acetate (OAc-) groups and hexafluoroacetylacetonate (F6acac-) groups on both sides of the parallelogram-like Ln4 core. Complex 1, [Dy4(H3L)2(OAc)3(F6acac)3]·5MeOH·2H2O, exhibits single-molecule magnet properties at the zero field with the U eff/k value of 48.4 K; notably, besides the Orbach process, the Raman process is also prominent for the magnetic relaxation of 1. Complex 2, [Gd4(H3L)2(OAc)3(F6acac)3]·4MeOH·2.5H2O, displays a large magnetocaloric effect, whose largest -ΔS m value is 21.88 J kg-1 K-1 (when T = 2 K and ΔH = 5 T); it thus can be utilized as a good magnetic refrigeration molecular material.

Molecular assemblies from linear-shaped Ln4 clusters to Ln8 clusters using different β-diketonates: disparate magnetocaloric effects and single-molecule magnet behaviours

A series of tetranuclear lanthanide-based clusters [Ln₄(dbm)₆(L)₂(CH₃OH)₄]·2CH₃OH (Ln(III) = Gd (1), Dy (2), and Ho (3); H₃L = 2-[(2-(hydroxyimino)propanehydrazide)methyl]-2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, Hdbm = dibenzoylmethane) and octanuclear lanthanide-based clusters [Ln₈(HL)₁₀(CH₃O)₄(CH₃OH)₂]·6CH₃OH (Ln(III) = Gd (4), Dy (5)) were assembled using a polydentate Schiff-base ligand H₃L and two different β-diketone salts via a solvothermal method, and their structures and magnetic properties have been characterized. Interestingly, β-diketones play an important role in assembling and affecting the structures of Ln₄ to Ln₈ clusters. This is the first use of β-diketone to affect the structures of polynuclear Ln(III)-based clusters from linear-shaped Ln₄ clusters to Ln₈ clusters. Magnetic studies revealed that antiferromagnetic interactions exist in clusters 1-Gd4 and 4-Gd8. More importantly, clusters 1-Gd4 and 4-Gd8 display significant cryogenic magnetic refrigeration properties (-ΔS_m = 24.88 J kg^-1 K^-1 for 1-Gd4 and -ΔS_m = 32.52 J kg^-1 K^-1 for 4-Gd8); the results show that cluster 4-Gd8 exhibits a larger magnetocaloric effect than 1-Gd4. Cluster 2-Dy4 shows remarkable single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior (ΔE/k_B = 67.5 K and τ₀ = 3.06 × 10^-7 s) under a zero dc field, and 5-Dy8 exhibits a field-induced SMM-like behavior (ΔE/k_B = 39.83 K and τ₀ = 2.12 × 10^-7 s) under a 5000 Oe dc field.

New Materials and Effects in Molecular Nanomagnets

Molecular magnets are a relatively new class of purely organic or metallo-organic materials, showing magnetism even without an external magnetic field. This interdisciplinary field between chemistry and physics has been gaining increased interest since the 1990s. While bulk molecular magnets are usually hard to build because of their molecular structures, low-dimensional molecular magnets are often easier to construct, down to dot-like (zero-dimensional) structures, which are investigated by different scanning probe technologies. On these scales, new effects such as superparamagnetic behavior or coherent switching during magnetization reversal can be recognized. Here, we give an overview of the recent advances in molecular nanomagnets, starting with single-molecule magnets (0D), typically based on Mn12, Fe8, or Mn4, going further to single-chain magnets (1D) and finally higher-dimensional molecular nanomagnets. This review does not aim to give a comprehensive overview of all research fields dealing with molecular nanomagnets, but instead aims at pointing out diverse possible materials and effects in order to stimulate new research in this broad field of nanomagnetism.

Modulation of the properties of dinuclear lanthanide complexes through utilizing different β-diketonate co-ligands: near-infrared luminescence and magnetization dynamics

Four Dy₂ complexes based on the ligand H₂L display various slow magnetic relaxation behaviors through utilizing different β-diketonate co-ligands.

Slow magnetic relaxation in Dy2 and Dy4 complexes of a versatile, trifunctional polydentate N,O-ligand

A binuclear Dy^III complex exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization under an applied dc field, while its tetranuclear counterpart exhibits “true” zero-field SMM behaviour.

A series of new octanuclear Ln8 clusters: magnetic studies reveal a significant cryogenic magnetocaloric effect and slow magnetic relaxation

A series of new octanuclear Ln₈ clusters. Magnetically, Gd₈ exhibited a significant magnetocaloric effect and a magnetic entropy change is 32.49 J K⁻¹ kg⁻¹ for a field of 7 T at 2 K, while Dy₈ exhibited a frequency dependent slow relaxation of magnetization at a zero applied direct current magnetic field.

Correlation of Structural and Magnetic Properties in a Set of Mononuclear Lanthanide Complexes

The electronic and magnetic properties of a set of mononuclear terbium(III) and dysprosium(III) complexes with two tetradentate 1-hydroxy-pyridin-2-one (1,2-HOPO) ligands are reported. Two primary coordination geometries are observed, depending on the length of the linker between the 1,2-HOPO donor moieties and the resulting arrangements of the linker. Fine details of the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of the dysprosium(III) complexes illustrate differences in the splitting of the J multiplets and allow for a thorough ligand field analysis. High frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR) studies of the terbium(III) complexes give insight into the composition of the ground states. Ab initio calculations are utilized to rationalize the experimental results and further illustrate the effect of the structural features on the electronic and magnetic properties of the different complexes.

Modulating single-molecule magnet behavior towards multiple magnetic relaxation processes through structural variation in Dy4 clusters

Three Dy₄ clusters based on a flexible and attractive Schiff base ligand HL have been synthesized, and they showed different tetranuclear core arrangements. Magnetic studies reveal that clusters 1–3 display distinct slow relaxation of magnetization.

Dinuclear Ln(iii) complexes constructed from an 8-hydroxyquinoline Schiff base derivative with different terminal groups show differing slow magnetic relaxation

Two series of Ln₂ complexes display substituent-dependent magnetic relaxation behavior.

Structures and magnetic properties of several phenoxo-O bridged dinuclear lanthanide complexes: Dy derivatives displaying substituent dependent magnetic relaxation behavior

The two Dy₂ complexes have similar structures, while they display substituent dependent magnetic relaxation behaviors.

A novel oxime-derived 3d–4f single-molecule magnet exhibiting two single-ion magnetic relaxations

A weak ferromagnetic coupled {Dy₄Ni₆} cluster with a butterfly-shaped DyIII4 core and four-coordinate diamagnetic Ni^II ions shows field-induced SMM behaviour with two overlapping thermally activated relaxations.

A nine-coordinated dysprosium(iii) compound with an oxalate-bridged dysprosium(iii) layer exhibiting two slow magnetic relaxation processes

A 2D oxalate-bridged dysprosium(iii) compound, formulated as [Dy(C₂O₄)_1.5(H₂O)₃]_n·2nH₂O (1), has been hydrothermally isolated.

Chloride-bridged, defect-dicubane {Ln4} core clusters: syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties

Three chloride-bridged lanthanide compounds, [Ln4Cl6(CH3OH)12(OH)2]·4Cl·2CH3OH [Ln = Gd (), Dy () and Er ()], have been unexpectedly isolated by the reactions of LnCl3·6H2O and N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-(phenylene-diamine) (H2L). X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals a triclinic cell with a unique defect-dicubane {Ln4} core and the structure across this series is nominally isomorphic. Measurements of direct current magnetic susceptibility and isothermal magnetization give insight into the relevant cluster Hamiltonians for , , and , and alternating current susceptibility shows slow relaxation in , but not in or down to 2 K and up to 1 kHz.

pH-induced Dy4 and Dy10 cluster-based 1D chains with different magnetic relaxation features

Two novel [Dy₄] and [Dy₁₀] cluster-based 1D chains (1 and 2) were structurally and magnetically characterized, exhibiting different magnetic relaxation behaviors. The results revealed that the different pH values induced large structural and magnetic changes of 1 and 2, and this has rarely been reported in polynuclear Dy-clusters.