Relaxations in heterolanthanide dinuclear single-molecule magnets

Novel stable ytterbium acetylacetonate-quinaldinate complexes as single-molecule magnets and surprisingly efficient luminophores

The first Yb complexes comprising a quinoline-2-carboxylate (quinaldinate, Q-) ligand, namely 1D-polymeric [Yb(acac)2(Q)]n (1, acac- is the acetylacetonate (pentane-2,4-dionate) anion) and mononuclear [Yb(acac)2(Q)(Phen)] (2, Phen is 1,10-phenanthroline), are reported. The bifunctionality of both complexes as field-induced single-molecule magnets (SMMs) and near IR luminophores has been revealed. The SMM properties of 1 and 2 have been discussed in terms of the geometry and composition of the coordination environment. Also, 1 is the first example of 1D-polymeric SMMs with the capped octahedral surrounding of Yb3+. The photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) of 1 and 2 are 2 and 4%, respectively. The origins of this difference are discussed. Surprisingly, the PLQY value of 2 is high for compounds comprising a lot of C-H vibrational quenchers, being the highest one for reliably characterized Yb β-diketonate complexes, and surpassing those for complexes with a broad range of anionic ligands. In this respect, the role of the Phen ligand is to tune the coordination mode of Q- thereby decreasing the energy of coordinating C-O oscillators rather than to act as a typical antenna ligand. These results can give rise to an alternative route to elaborate efficient Yb-based luminophores via the substitution of the β-diketonate ligands controlled by the introduction of appropriate neutral ligands.

Modulation of the magnetic and photophysical properties in 3d-4f and 4f-4f' heterobimetallic complexes involving a tetrathiafulvalene-based ligand

The reaction between the 2-(1-(2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-4-methylpyridyl)-4,5-(4,5-bis(propylthio)-tetrathiafulvalenyl)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-pyridine ligand (L), 1 equivalent of Ln(hfac)3·2H2O/Dy(tta)3·2H2O (hfac- = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate, tta- = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) and M(hfac)2·2H2O leads to the formation of heteroleptic 3d-4f dinuclear complexes of formula [MLn(hfac)5(L)]n (M(II) = Cd, Zn, Co, Mn, Ni and Ln(III) = Dy, Yb, Nd) and [ZnDy(tta)2(hfac)3(L)]·(CH2Cl2). Their X-ray structures reveal that the two coordination sites are occupied by one Ln(III) ion and one M(II) transition metal respectively. The M(II) ions are coordinated to the benzoimidazolylpyridine (bzip) moiety in a N2O4 coordination sphere, while the Ln(III) ions are coordinated to the 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-4-pyridine (dpp) moiety in a N3O6 surrounding. When Dy(III) ion is used a field-induced Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) behavior is detected with a magnetic relaxation time slightly dependent to the nature of the vicinal divalent transition metal. On the other hand, when the Yb(III) is used, intense, moderated or quenched 2F5/2 → 2F7/2 NIR luminescence is observed when the Yb(III) ion is respectively associated with the Zn(II), Mn(II) and Ni(II)/Co(II) ion. The emission intensity can be modulated in function of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer and d-d transition intensities. The replacement of the divalent transition metal by a trivalent lanthanide leads to the formation of heteroleptic 4f-4f' dinuclear complexes of formula [Ln2-xLn'x(hfac)6(L)]·a(CH2Cl2)·b(C6H14) and [Dy1.11Nd0.89(tta)3(hfac)3(L)]. The coordination selectivity is based on the radius. Among the 4f-4f' series, the Dy(III) derivatives displayed such ion in N2O6 eight-coordinated sphere allowing the observation of SMM behavior. The three compounds [Dy1.21Nd0.79(hfac)6(L)]·2(CH2Cl2)·(C6H14), [Yb1.04Nd0.96(hfac)6(L)] and [YbPr(hfac)6(L)] displayed respectively Nd(III), modarated Yb(III) and intense Yb(III) NIR emissions.

Nitrile formation via dichlorocarbene insertion into the Si–N bond of Ln(iii) bis(trimethylsilyl)amide complexes

Reactions of bis(trimethylsilyl)amino lanthanides and chloroform unprecedently generate the Me3SiCN complexes where the nitrile ligand is formed via insertion of dichlorocarbene into the Si–N bond of the lanthanide precursor.

Significantly Enhancing the Single-Molecule-Magnet Performance of a Dinuclear Dy(III) Complex by Utilizing an Asymmetric Auxiliary Organic Ligand

In this work, we employed an asymmetric auxiliary organic ligand (1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetone, Htfac) to further regulate the magnetic relaxation behavior of series of Dy₂ single-molecule magnets (SMMs) with a N1,N3-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H₂L) ligand. Fortunately, an air-stable Dy₂ complex, [Dy₂(L)₂(tfac)₂] (1; Htfac = 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetone) was obtained at room temperature. A structural analysis indicated that some Dy-O or Dy-N bond lengths for 1 are not in the range of those for the complexes [Dy^III₂(L)₂(acac)₂]·2CH₂Cl₂ (Dy₂-acac; Hacac = acetylacetone) and [Dy^III₂(L)₂(hfac)₂] (Dy₂-hfac; Hhfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone), although the electron-withdrawing ability of tfac^- is stronger than that of acac^- but weaker than that of hfac^-. Additionally, the Dy-O3/O3a (the two O atoms bridged to Dy^III ions) bond lengths are also affected by the asymmetrical Htfc ligand. This indicated that the charge distribution of the coordination atoms around Dy^III has been modified in 1, which leads to the fine-tuning of the magnetic relaxation behavior of 1. Magnetic studies indicated that the values of effective energy barrier (U_eff) for 1 and its diluted sample (2) are 234.8(3) and 188.0(6) K, respectively, which are both higher than the reported value of 110 K for the complex Dy₂-hfac. More interestingly, 1 exhibits a magnetic hysteresis opening when T < 2.5 K at zero field, while the hysteresis loops of 2 are closed at a zero dc field. This discrepancy is due to the weak intramolecular exchange coupling in 2, which cannot overcome the QTM of the single Dy^III ion. Ab initio calculations for 1 revealed that the charge distributions of the coordination atoms around Dy^III ions were regulated and the intramolecular exchange coupling was indeed improved when the asymmetrical Htfc was employed as a ligand for the synthesis of this kind of Dy₂ SMM.

Design of pure heterodinuclear lanthanoid cryptate complexes

Heterolanthanide complexes are difficult to synthesize owing to the similar chemistry of the lanthanide ions. Consequently, very few purely heterolanthanide complexes have been synthesized. This is despite the fact that such complexes hold interesting optical and magnetic properties. To fine-tune these properties, it is important that one can choose complexes with any given combination of lanthanides. Herein we report a synthetic procedure which yields pure heterodinuclear lanthanide cryptates LnLn*LX3 (X = NO3 - or OTf-) based on the cryptand H3L = N[(CH2)2N[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-R-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N-(CH2)2]3N (R = m-C6H2OH-2-Me-5). In the synthesis the choice of counter ion and solvent proves crucial in controlling the Ln-Ln* composition. Choosing the optimal solvent and counter ion afford pure heterodinuclear complexes with any given combination of Gd(iii)-Lu(iii) including Y(iii). To demonstrate the versatility of the synthesis all dinuclear combinations of Y(iii), Gd(iii), Yb(iii) and Lu(iii) were synthesized resulting in 10 novel complexes of the form LnLn*L(OTf)3 with LnLn* = YbGd 1, YbY 2, YbLu 3, YbYb 4, LuGd 5, LuY 6, LuLu 7, YGd 8, YY 9 and GdGd 10. Through the use of 1H, 13C NMR and mass spectrometry the heterodinuclear nature of YbGd, YbY, YbLu, LuGd, LuY and YGd was confirmed. Crystal structures of LnLn*L(NO3)3 reveal short Ln-Ln distances of ∼3.5 Å. Using SQUID magnetometry the exchange coupling between the lanthanide ions was found to be anti-ferromagnetic for GdGd and YbYb while ferromagnetic for YbGd.

The influence of organic bases and substituted groups on coordination structures affording two mononuclear Dy(iii) single-molecule magnets (SMMs) and a novel Dy(iii)–K(i) compound with unusually coordinated fluorine atoms

The different organic bases and substituted groups of auxiliary ligands play an important role in synthetic processes, finally affording distinct structures and magnetic properties.

Magnetic relaxation in two chain-like Zn2Dy2 Schiff base coordination polymers bridged by tetraoxolene and its one-electron reduced radical

Two chain-like Zn–Dy anilate radical coordination polymers with Schiff base ligands show magnetic relaxation behaviors.

Dy(iii) zig-zag chains assembled in a 3D framework with single-molecule magnet behaviour

A new lanthanide-based framework, [Dy(STP)(1,2-bdc)]_n (1), represents 1D dysprosium zigzag chain architecture in a 3D framework and displays SMM behaviour under zero dc field.

A series of dysprosium-based hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (Dy–HOFs): thermally triggered off → on conversion of a single-ion magnet

A series of dysprosium-based HOFs (Dy–HOFs) were designed and synthesized for the first time under solvothermal conditions. Herein, we achieved the magnetic off → on SIM switching of Dy–HOFs under thermal driving conditions.

Both magnetic relaxation and luminescence of Zn2Dy2 cluster complexes regulated by the bis-imine chain in Schiff base ligands

The bis-imine bridge in Schiff base ligands has effects on the magnetic relaxation and luminescence of two Zn₂Dy₂ cluster complexes.

New field-induced single ion magnets based on prolate Er(iii) and Yb(iii) ions: tuning the energy barrierUeffby the choice of counterions within an N3-tridentate Schiff-base scaffold

Counterions modulate the structure and magnetic properties of rarely observed high-coordinate SIM species.

Investigation of magneto-structural correlation based on a series of seven-coordinated β-diketone Dy(iii) single-ion magnets with C2v and C3v local symmetry

Four field-induced single-ion magnets based on seven-coordinated Dy(iii) complexes have been prepared to explore the magnetism–structure relationship.

Record-high thermal barrier of the relaxation of magnetization in the nitride clusterfullerene Dy2ScN@C80-Ih

The Dy-Sc nitride clusterfullerene Dy2ScN@C80-Ih exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization up to 76 K. Above 60 K, thermally-activated relaxation proceeds via the fifth-excited Kramers doublet with the energy of 1735 ± 21 K, which is the highest barrier ever reported for dinuclear lanthanide single molecule magnets.

Tuning quantum tunnelling of magnetization through 3d–4f magnetic interactions: an alternative approach for manipulating single-molecule magnetism

The quantum tunnelling of magnetization was observed in [Zn₂Dy₂], contrarily it was quenched in [Mn₂Dy₂] and [Co₂Dy₂] by spin–spin exchange.

Two {Dy2} single-molecule magnets formed via an in situ reaction by capturing CO2 from atmosphere under ambient conditions

Under ambient conditions, CO₂ was captured from the atmosphere, and then reduced and sequestrated into two {Dy₂} single-molecule magnets.

Construction of lanthanide single-molecule magnets with the “magnetic motif” [Dy(MQ)4]−

[Dy₂(MQ)₄(NO₃)₃]⁺ is SMM-silent (SMM = single-molecule magnet) owing to the unfavourable magnetic interactions. Introducing an additional “magnetic motif” [Dy(MQ)₄]⁻ to diminish such interactions gave a trinuclear [Dy₃(MQ)₈(NO₃)], which behaves as an SMM.

Coligand modifications fine-tuned the structure and magnetic properties of two triple-bridged azido-Cu(ii) chain compounds exhibiting ferromagnetic ordering and slow relaxation

Two triple-bridged azido-Cu(ii) compounds with different benzoates as coligands exhibit distinct magnetic properties.

Solvent orientation in the crystal lattice producing distinct magnetic dynamics in two binuclear Dy(iii) polymorphs with a polydentate Schiff base ligand

Here, two Dy(iii) polymorphs with D_4d symmetry, [Dy(Clapi)]₂·(CH₂Cl₂)₂ (1a and 1b), exhibit distinct magnetic dynamic behaviours. This work presents a rational model to explore the magneto-structural relationship of SMMs in both experimental and theoretical aspects.

Strategies toward High-Temperature Lanthanide-Based Single-Molecule Magnets

Lanthanide-based single-molecule magnets are leading materials for achieving magnetization blocking at the level of one molecule. In this paper, we examine the physical requirements for efficient magnetization blocking in single-ion complexes and identify the design principles for achieving very high magnetization blocking barriers in lanthanide-based compounds. The key condition is the preponderant covalent binding of the Ln ion to one of the ligand atoms, tremendously enhancing the axial crystal field. We also make an overview of practical schemes for the implementation of this principle. These are (1) the effective lowering of the coordination number via displacement of the Ln ion to one of the atoms in the coordination polyhedron, (2) the design of two-coordinated complexes, and (3) the stabilization of diatomic compounds in cages and on surfaces. The last proposal is appealing in connection to spintronics applications, especially via the exploration of robust and highly anisotropic [LnX] units displaying multilevel blocking barriers of thousands of Kelvin and prospects for room-temperature magnetization blocking.

Cyclic single-molecule magnets: from the odd-numbered heptanuclear to a dimer of heptanuclear dysprosium clusters

A heptanuclear compound and a dimer of heptanuclear dysprosium clusters (Dy₇ and Dy₁₄) have been successfully synthesized, which feature the largest odd-numbered cyclic lanthanide clusters reported thus far. Both exhibit single molecule magnet behaviours at low temperature.

Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of a series of mono- and di-nuclear dysprosium(iii)-crown-ether complexes: effects of a weak ligand-field and flexible cyclic coordination modes

Six Dy(iii)-crown-ether complexes show the effects of coordination anions and geometries on slow magnetic relaxation behaviours.

A family of acetato-diphenoxo triply bridged dimetallic ZnIILnIII complexes: SMM behavior and luminescent properties

A new family of Zn–Ln complexes that show interesting magnetic (SIM) and luminescent properties has been synthesized and characterized.

A new cobalt(II)-containing coordination polymer composed of dinuclear metal units: synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties with DFT calculations

A new Co(II)-based compound with a 3-phenyl-5-(pyridin-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (4-Hppt) and isophthalic acid (H2ip) mixed ligand, [Co(4-Hppt)2(ip)] (1), has been synthesized and structurally and magnetically characterized. The structure of compound 1 consists of one-dimensional coordination chains based on the Co2 units bridged by dual carboxylate groups, where the pyridyl nitrogen atoms in 4-Hppt ligands are located in the axial coordination sites of the octahedral Co(II) nodes. Magnetic investigation suggests that the magnetic coupling derived from the dinuclear Co(II) ions is a moderately antiferromagnetic exchange in the title compound. Moreover, DFT calculations have been performed on the compound to offer a qualitatively theoretical explanation of the magnetic behavior.

Enlarging the ring by incorporating a phosphonate coligand: from the cyclic hexanuclear to octanuclear dysprosium clusters

Solvothermal reaction of a double pyrazinyl hydrazone ligand EDDC(2-) with Dy(OAc)3 results in a cyclic hexanuclear cluster [Dy6(EDDC)2(OAc)14(H2O)2]·MeOH·2H2O (). The addition of 1-naphthylphosphonate to the reaction mixture expands the ring size with the formation of a cyclic octanuclear cluster [Dy8(EDDC)4(O3PC10H7)4(OAc)8(H2O)4]·12H2O (). The latter shows slow magnetization relaxation below 12 K, characteristic of single molecule magnet behavior.

A Dy2 single-molecule magnet with benzoate anions and phenol-O− bridging groups

A Dy₂ single-molecule magnet, namely [Dy₂(H₃L)₂(PhCOO)₄]·4H₂O (1), was obtained from the reaction of Dy(PhCOO)₃ with 1,5-bis(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)carbonohydrazide (H₄L).

pH-controlled polymorphism in a layered dysprosium phosphonate and its impact on the magnetization relaxation

This communication reports two polymorphic dysprosium compounds that exhibit slow relaxation of magnetization with significantly different energy barriers.

Near-IR luminescence and field-induced single molecule magnet of four salen-type ytterbium complexes

A series of rigid hexadentate salen-type (H2L) ytterbium complexes, namely, [Yb2L3(CH3OH)]·3CH3CN (1), [Yb2LL'L″(CH3OH)(H2O)2](ClO4)2·CH3OH·H2O (2), [Yb2L(OAc)4(CH3OH)2]·2CH3OH (3), and {[Yb2L(OAc)4]·3H2O}n (4) (H2L = N,N'-bis(2-oxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine, HL' = 2-(2'-hydroxy-3'-methyloxy-phenyl)benzimidazole and HL" = 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde) have been synthesized by reactions of H2L with multifarious Yb(3+) salts. X-ray crystallographic analyses demonstrate that complex 1 is of a triple-decker sandwich-type Yb2L3 structure with a ratio of H2L/Yb = 3:2, 2 and 3 possess the unique Yb2 core with a ratio of H2L/Yb = 2:2 and 1:2, respectively, 4 exhibits one dimensional coordination polymers in which the polymeric structures are formed by acetate (OAc(-)) groups. All complexes 1-4 exhibit near-IR luminescence, which can be rationalized on the basis of the disparate structural effects. The magnetic analysis unveils that all complexes 1-4 are of field-induced single-molecule magnet behavior with the energy barriers (Ueff/kB) of 14.5, 2.0, 9.5, and 2.4 K at 3 kOe direct current fields, respectively.