Cycloheptatrienyl trianion: an elusive bridge in the search of exchange coupled dinuclear organolanthanide single-molecule magnets

Cycloheptatrienyl-Bridged Triple-Decker Complexes

The first structurally characterized organometallic multidecker sandwich complexes featuring a cycloheptatrienyl ring (Cht, C7H73-) in the coordination sphere are presented. The synthesis of inverse sandwich complexes of the rare earth elements YIII and ErIII with a bridging cycloheptatrienyl ligand of the type [(thf)(BH4)2LnIII(μ-η7:η7-Cht)LnIII(BH4)(thf)2] is described first. The subsequent introduction of the CotTIPS ligand (CotTIPS = 1,4-(iPr3Si)2C8H62-) into the coordination sphere of the rare earth cations resulted in the isolation of unprecedented triple-decker compounds with the formula [(thf)3K{(η8-CotTIPS)LnIII}2(μ-η7:η7-Cht)], bearing a seven-membered aromatic carbon ring as a middle deck. These compounds are also the first examples of rare earth triple-decker complexes not bridged by a Cot derivative, based on purely carbon-based ligands. The magnetic properties of the respective ErIII congeners were investigated in detail, leading to the observation of antiferromagnetic coupling of the ErIII cations and a blocking temperature of 13.5 K. The conversion of the YIII compound [(thf)3K{(η8-CotTIPS)YIII}2(μ-η7:η7-Cht)] with [YIII(Cot)I(thf)2] resulted in ligand rearrangement and the selective formation of the first triple-decker complex ([(η8-CotTIPSYIII)2(μ-η8:η8-Cot)]) featuring two Cot ligands with different substituents in its coordination sphere.

Triple Inverse Sandwich versus End-On Diazenido: Bonding Motifs across a Series of Rhenium-Lanthanide and -Actinide Complexes

While synthesizing a series of rhenium-lanthanide triple inverse sandwich complexes, we unexpectedly uncovered evidence for rare examples of end-on lanthanide dinitrogen coordination for certain heavy lanthanide elements as well as for uranium. We begin our report with the synthesis and characterization of a series of trirhenium triple inverse sandwich complexes with the early lanthanides, Ln[(μ-η5:η5-Cp)Re(BDI)]3(THF) (1-Ln, Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm; Cp = cyclopentadienide, BDI = N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,5-dimethyl-β-diketiminate). However, as we moved across the lanthanide series, we ran into an unexpected result for gadolinium in which we structurally characterized two products for gadolinium, namely, 1-Gd (analogous to 1-Ln) and a diazenido dirhenium double inverse sandwich complex Gd[(μ-η1:η1-N2)Re(η5-Cp)(BDI)][(μ-η5:η5-Cp)Re(BDI)]2(THF)2 (2-Gd). Evidence for analogues of 2-Gd was spectroscopically observed for other heavy lanthanides (2-Ln, Ln = Tb, Dy, Er), and, in the case of 2-Er, structurally authenticated. These complexes represent the first observed examples of heterobimetallic end-on lanthanide dinitrogen coordination. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were utilized to probe relevant bonding interactions and reveal energetic differences between both the experimental and putative 1-Ln and 2-Ln complexes. We also present additional examples of novel end-on heterobimetallic lanthanide and actinide diazenido moieties in the erbium-rhenium complex (η8-COT)Er[(μ-η1:η1-N2)Re(η5-Cp)(BDI)](THF)(Et2O) (3-Er) and uranium-rhenium complex [Na(2.2.2-cryptand)][(η5-C5H4SiMe3)3U(μ-η1:η1-N2)Re(η5-Cp)(BDI)] (4-U). Finally, we expand the scope of rhenium inverse sandwich coordination by synthesizing divalent double inverse sandwich complex Yb[(μ-η5:η5-Cp)Re(BDI)]2(THF)2 (5-Yb), as well as base-free, homoleptic rhenium-rare earth triple inverse sandwich complex Y[(μ-η5:η5-Cp)Re(BDI)]3 (6-Y).

Single-molecule magnet behavior in heterometallic decanuclear [Ln2Fe8] (Ln = Y, Dy, Ho, Tb, Gd) coordination clusters

Five decanuclear lanthanide-iron clusters, formulated as [Ln2Fe8(hmp)10(μ2-OH)4(μ3-OH)2(μ4-O)4(H2O)6]·6ClO4·xH2O (x ≈ 8, Ln = Y for 1; x ≈ 6, Ln = Dy for 2; x ≈ 6, Ln = Ho for 3; x ≈ 7, Ln = Tb for 4; x ≈ 7, Ln = Gd for 5, Hhmp = 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Single-crystal structural analysis reveals that the cluster consists of six face-sharing defective cubane units. Dynamic magnetic investigations indicated that cluster 2 exhibits single-molecule magnet behavior under a zero dc field eliciting an effective energy barrier of Ueff = 17.76 K and a pre-exponential factor of τ0 = 7.93 × 10-8 s. Investigation of the performance of a series of FeIII-DyIII SMMs indicates that the relatively low energy barrier in 2 is associated with the weak ferromagnetic coupling between FeIII and DyIII ions, while the strength of ferromagnetic interaction in these clusters is mainly related to the bond distances between DyIII and O atoms coordinated to FeIII ions. Clusters 3 and 4 exhibit similar dual relaxation pathways under their respective optimal external applied dc field, where the direct relaxation process occurs in the low-frequency area, which impedes the extraction of the Ueff, while the secondary relaxation process appears at a higher frequency, which is probably a connection with intermolecularly driven relaxation. Our findings offer a magneto-structural correlation model for further investigating the single-molecule magnet behavior in lanthanide-iron systems.

Dynamic Magnetic Properties of Germole-ligated Lanthanide Sandwich Complexes

The first germole-ligated single-molecule magnets are reported, with contrasting properties found for the near-linear sandwich complexes [(η8 -COT)Ln(η5 -CpGe ]- , where Ln=Dy (1Dy ) or Er (1Er ), COT is cyclo-octatetraenyl and CpGe is [GeC4 -2,5-(SiMe3 )2 -3,4-Me2 ]2- . Whereas 1Er has an energy barrier of 120(1) cm-1 in zero applied field and open hysteresis loops up to 10 K, the relaxation in 1Dy is characterized by quantum tunneling within the ground state.

Back to the future of organolanthanide chemistry

At the dawn of the development of structural organometallic chemistry, soon after the discovery of ferrocene, the description of the LnCp₃ complexes, featuring large and mostly trivalent lanthanide ions, was rather original and sparked curiosity. Yet, the interest in these new architectures rapidly dwindled due to the electrostatic nature of the bonding between π-aromatic ligands and 4f-elements. Almost 70 years later, it is interesting to focus on how the discipline has evolved in various directions with the reports of multiple catalytic reactivities, remarkable potential in small molecule activation, and the development of rich redox chemistry. Aside from chemical reactivity, a better understanding of their singular electronic nature - not precisely as simplistic as anticipated - has been crucial for developing tailored compounds with adapted magnetic anisotropy or high fluorescence properties that have witnessed significant popularity in recent years. Future developments shall greatly benefit from the detailed reactivity, structural and physical chemistry studies, particularly in photochemistry, electro- or photoelectrocatalysis of inert small molecules, and manipulating the spins' coherence in quantum technology.

Thorium- and Uranium-Mediated C-H Activation of a Silyl-Substituted Cyclobutadienyl Ligand

Cyclobutadienyl complexes of the f-elements are a relatively new yet poorly understood class of sandwich and half-sandwich organometallic compounds. We now describe cyclobutadienyl transfer reactions of the magnesium reagent [(η⁴-Cb'''')Mg(THF)₃] (1), where Cb'''' is tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)cyclobutadienyl, toward thorium(IV) and uranium(IV) tetrachlorides. The 1:1 stoichiometric reactions between 1 and AnCl₄ proceed with intact transfer of Cb'''' to give the half-sandwich complexes [(η⁴-Cb'''')AnCl(μ-Cl)₃Mg(THF)₃] (An = Th, 2; An = U, 3). Using a 2:1 reaction stoichiometry produces [Mg₂Cl₃(THF)₆][(η⁴-Cb'''')An(η³-C₄H(SiMe₃)₃-κ-(CH₂SiMe₂)(Cl)] (An = Th, [Mg₂Cl₃(THF)₆][4]; An = U [Mg₂Cl₃(THF)₆][5]), in which one Cb'''' ligand has undergone cyclometalation of a trimethylsilyl group, resulting in the formation of an An-C σ-bond, protonation of the four-membered ring, and an η³-allylic interaction with the actinide. Complex solution-phase dynamics are observed with multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for both sandwich complexes. A computational analysis of the reaction mechanism leading to the formation of 4 and 5 indicates that the cyclobutadienyl ligands undergo C-H activation across the actinide center.

Six-coordinated dinuclear lanthanide(III) amide complexes: investigation of magnetization relaxation dynamics and their electronic structures

A series of rare six-coordinated dinuclear Ln(III) complexes [Ln₂(μ-Cl)₂Cl₄Li₂(L)₂(THF)₆] were structurally characterized using a bulky amide ligand (L; Ln = Gd(1), Dy(2) and Y(3)). Detailed magnetic studies disclose that a weak antiferromagnetic coupling exists within 1 (-0.09 cm^-1) and 2 (-0.07 cm^-1; -2J Hamiltonian). Additionally, this study unveils the importance of the amide ligand at the coordination site of Dy(III), which manifests a slow relaxation of magnetization in the absence of an external magnetic field. This has been rationalized by detailed ab initio calculations as well as the electronic structure determination of 1 and 2.

A study of cation-dependent inverse hydrogen bonds and magnetic exchange-couplings in lanthanacarborane complexes

Ten lanthanacarborane complexes were synthesized to study the rare B-Hδ-∙∙∙Mn+ inverse hydrogen bonds (IHBs). The average bonding energy of B-Hδ-∙∙∙Ln3+ is theoretically determined to be larger than 24 kJ/mol, which is comparable to moderately strong hydrogen bonds (21-56 kJ/mol). In addition to NMR and IR, magnetometer was used to study the exchange-coupling interaction via such B-Hδ-∙∙∙Ln3+ IHBs in detail, and the coupling constant is determined to be -2.0 cm-1, which is strong enough to compare with single-atom bridged dysprosium(III) complexes. Two imidazolin-iminato incorporated complexes have shown energy barrier for magnetization reversal larger than 1000 K, and the exchange-biasing effects are evident. Moreover, the bonding strengths of B-Hδ-∙∙∙Mn+ IHBs are cation-dependent. If M = Na, the B-Hδ-∙∙∙Na+ bonding energy is reduced to 14 kJ/mol, and the dimerization process is no longer reversible. The exchange-biasing effect is also disappeared. We believe such a finding extends our knowledge of IHBs.

Magnetic properties of organolanthanide(II) complexes, from the electronic structure and the crystal field effect

The magnetic properties of a series of organometallic complexes [LnCp3]- and Ln(CNT)2, where Cp = cyclopentadienyl and CNT = cyclononatetraenyl, of the lanthanide ions in the 2+ oxidation state, are theoretically studied in terms of the electronic structure obtained via multiconfigurational wave function-based methods. Calculations are performed for two groups of ion complexes selected based on their preferred electronic configuration 4fn+1 or 4fn5d1 (n is the number of f electrons in the 3+ ion). All the properties are discussed in terms of the electron density distribution of the ground state and ligand field effects. This analysis allows giving some molecular design strategies relevant to exploit the magnetic properties in applications like Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs) for lanthanide ions in the 2+ oxidation state.

Tuning magnetic anisotropy via terminal ligands along the Dy⋯Dy orientation in novel centrosymmetric [Dy2] single molecule magnets

The SMM properties of four dinuclear Dy^III complexes can be effectively tuned by the appropriate alteration of terminal ligands and lattice guests.

DyIII single-molecule magnets from ligands incorporating both amine and acylhydrazine Schiff base groups: the centrosymmetric {Dy2} displaying dual magnetic relaxation behaviors

The novel multidentate chelating ligands N'-(2-pyridylmethylidene)-2-(2-pyridylmethylideneamino)benzohydrazide (Hpphz) and N'-(2-salicylmethylidene)-2-(2-salicylmethylideneamino)benzohydrazide (H₃sshz), which incorporate both amine and acylhydrazine Schiff base groups, were synthesized and investigated in Dy^III coordination chemistry. The reactions of Hpphz and Dy(OAc)₃·4H₂O have yielded two {Dy₂} featuring double OAc^- bridges: [Dy₂(H₂aphz)₂(OAc)₄(ROH)₂] [R = Me (1) and Et (2)], where the Hpphz ligands were in situ hydrolyzed into 2-amino-(2-pyridylmethylideneamino)benzohydrazide ions (H₂aphz^-). Besides, the reaction between H₃sshz and Dy(NO)₃·6H₂O afforded a [Dy₆(sshz)₄(μ₃-OH)₄(μ₄-O)(MeOH)₄]₂·17.5MeOH·2H₂O cluster (3). This cluster contained two discrete {Dy₆} cores, each of which consisted of a pair of {Dy₃} triangular units. All the complexes displayed a single relaxation process of single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviors under a zero dc field. Both 1 and 2 showed field-induced dual magnetic-relaxation behaviors. However, their diluted samples (1@Y and 2@Y) only showed one-step relaxation behaviors whether under a zero or applied dc field, indicating that the dual magnetic-relaxation behaviors of 1 and 2 were absent after the dilution. Combined with ab initio calculations, it could be infered that the dual magnetic-relaxation behaviors of 1 and 2 might be ascribled to the joint contributions of the single ion anisotropy and magnetic interactions. Examples of this type are rather rare in previous studies. Ab initio calculations also suggested that the discrepancy between the relaxation processes of 1 and 2 may be caused by the small difference between their magnetic interactions.

An approach to estimate the barrier height for magnetisation reversal in {Dy2} SMMs using ab initio calculations

Although ab initio CASSCF calculations yield a good numerical estimate of barrier height for magnetisation reversal for mononuclear Dy(iii) SIMs, obtaining a reliable value for higher nuclearity clusters such as {Dy2} are challenging. By analysing ab initio computed data of thirty-one different {Dy2} SMMs, we propose a model equation that relates the calculated barrier heights to the experimental values and offers a viable way to predict the barrier heights in {Dy2} SMMs.

Blocking like it's hot: a synthetic chemists' path to high-temperature lanthanide single molecule magnets

Progress in the synthesis, design, and characterisation of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) has expanded dramatically from curiosity driven beginnings to molecules that retain magnetization above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. This is in no small part due to the increasingly collaborative nature of this research where synthetic targets are guided by theoretical design criteria. This article aims to summarize these efforts and progress from the perspective of a synthetic chemist with a focus on how chemistry can modulate physical properties. A simple overview is presented of lanthanide electronic structure in order to contextualize the synthetic advances that have led to drastic improvements in the performance of lanthanide-based SMMs from the early 2000s to the late 2010s.

Slow magnetic relaxation in a homo dinuclear Dy(iii) complex in a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry

We hereby report a dinuclear Dy(iii) complex, [Dy(LH₃)Cl₂]₂·2Et₂O (1) (LH₄ = 2,3-dihydroxybenzylidene)-2-(hydroxyimino)propanehydrazide where both the metal centres are in a pentagonal bipyramidal (PBP) geometry with the axial positions being occupied by negatively charged Cl^- ions. The complex as well as it's 10% diluted analogue (1₁₀) do not show zero-field SMM behaviour. However, in the presence of small optimum dc fields the slow relaxation of magnetization was displayed. The effective energy barrier for 1₁₀ at 800 Oe of applied field was extracted as 83(17) K with τ₀ = 2(4) × 10^-12 s. Through a combined experimental and ab initio electronic structure calculations studies we have thoroughly analysed the role of the ligand field around the Dy(iii), present in pentagonal bipyramidal geometry, in contributing to the slow relaxation of magnetization.

Luminescent Ir(iii)–Ln(iii) coordination polymers showing slow magnetization relaxation

Two structural types of iridium(iii)–lanthanide(iii) coordination polymers, single-chain Ir2Ln and double-chain Ir4Ln2 (Ln = Gd, Dy, Er, and Yb), have been prepared. SMM behaviour and NIR luminescence were observed for the Ir–Er and Ir–Yb systems.

Breaking the axiality of pentagonal–bipyramidal dysprosium(iii) single-molecule magnets with pyrazolate ligands

Ten air-stable dysprosium(iii) SMMs with destroyed pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry imposed by axial bidentate-chelating pyrazolate ligands are studied, showing substitutional effect on axial ligands and no effect on equatorial ligands.

Main Group Chemistry at the Interface with Molecular Magnetism

Innovative synthetic coordination and, increasingly, organometallic chemistry are at the heart of advances in molecular magnetism. Smart ligand design is essential for implementing controlled modifications to the electronic structure and magnetic properties of transition metal and f-element compounds, and many important recent developments use nontraditional ligands based on low-coordinate main group elements to drive the field forward. This review charts progress in molecular magnetism from the perspective of ligands in which the donor atoms range from low-coordinate 2p elements-particularly carbon but also boron and nitrogen-to the heavier p-block elements such as phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and even bismuth. Emphasis is placed on the role played by novel main group ligands in addressing magnetic anisotropy of transition metal and f-element compounds, which underpins the development of single-molecule magnets (SMMs), a family of magnetic materials that can retain magnetization in the absence of a magnetic field below a blocking temperature. Nontraditional p-block donor atoms, with their relatively diffuse valence orbitals and more diverse bonding characteristics, also introduce scope for tuning the spin-orbit coupling properties and metal-ligand covalency in molecular magnets, which has implications in areas such as magnetic exchange coupling and spin crossover phenomena. The chemistry encompasses transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides and describes recently discovered molecular magnets that can be regarded, currently, as defining the state of the art. This review identifies that main group chemistry at the interface molecular magnetism is an area with huge potential to deliver new types of molecular magnets with previously unseen properties and applications.

Solvent-tuned magnetic exchange interactions in Dy2 systems ligated by a μ-phenolato heptadentate Schiff base

A series of binuclear dysprosium compounds, namely, [Dy(api)]₂ (1), [Dy(api)]₂·2CH₂Cl₂ (2), [Dy(Clapi)]₂·2C₄H₈O (3), and [Dy(Clapi)]₂·2C₃H₆O (4) (H₃api = 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazoline; H₃Clapi = 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-chlorophenyl)-1,3-bis[3′-aza-4′-(2′′-hydroxy-5′′-chlorophenyl)prop-4′-en-1′-yl]-1,3-imidazolidine), have been isolated by the reactions of salen-type ligands H₃api/H₃Clapi with DyCl₃·6H₂O in different solvent systems. Structural analysis reveals that each salen-type ligand provides a heptadentate coordination pocket (N₄O₃) to encapsulate a Dy^III ion and all of the Dy^III centers in 1–4 adopt a distorted square antiprism geometry with D_4d symmetry. Magnetic studies showed that compound 1 did not exhibit single-molecule magnetic (SMMs) behavior. With the introduction of different lattice solvents, compounds 2–4 showed filed-induced slow magnetic relaxation with barriers U_eff of 18.2 K (2), 28.0 K (3) and 16.4 K (4), respectively. Ab initio calculations were employed to interpret the magnetization behavior of 1–4. The combination of experimental and theoretical data reveal the importance of the weak exchange interaction between the Dy^III ions in the observation of slow magnetic relaxation, and a relaxation mechanism has been developed to rationalize the observed difference in the U_eff values. The different lattice solvents influence Dy–O–Dy bond angles and thus alter the torsion of the square antiprism geometry, consequently resulting in distinct magnetic interactions and the magnetic behavior.

Solvent-tuning changes the magnetic exchange interaction and results in different magnetic relaxation dynamics in Dy₂ systems ligated by a μ-phenolato heptadentate Schiff base.

Effect of coordination anion substitutions on relaxation dynamics of defect dicubane Zn2Dy2 tetranuclear clusters

We showcase the coordination anion substitution effect on the relaxation dynamics of defect dicubane Zn₂Dy₂ tetranuclear clusters.

Rare-Earth Cyclobutadienyl Sandwich Complexes: Synthesis, Structure and Dynamic Magnetic Properties

The potassium cyclobutadienyl [K₂ {η⁴ -C₄ (SiMe₃ )₄ }] (1) reacts with MCl₃ (THF)_3.5 (M=Y, Dy) to give the first rare-earth cyclobutadienyl complexes, that is, the complex anions [M{η⁴ -C₄ (SiMe₃ )₄ }{η⁴ -C₄ (SiMe₃ )₃ -κ-(CH₂ SiMe₂ }]^2- , (2_M ), as their dipotassium salts. The tuck-in alkyl ligand in 2_M is thought to form through deprotonation of the "squarocene" complexes [M{η⁴ -C₄ (SiMe₃ )₄ }₂ ]^- by 1. Complex 2_Dy is a single-molecule magnet, but with prominent quantum tunneling. An anisotropy barrier of 323(22) cm^-1 was determined for 2_Dy in an applied field of 1 kOe, and magnetic hysteresis loops were observed up to 7 K.

Magnetic hysteresis up to 80 kelvin in a dysprosium metallocene single-molecule magnet

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) containing only one metal center may represent the lower size limit for molecule-based magnetic information storage materials. Their current drawback is that all SMMs require liquid-helium cooling to show magnetic memory effects. We now report a chemical strategy to access the dysprosium metallocene cation [(Cp ^{i Pr5})Dy(Cp*)]⁺ (Cp ^{i Pr5}, penta-iso-propylcyclopentadienyl; Cp*, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), which displays magnetic hysteresis above liquid-nitrogen temperatures. An effective energy barrier to reversal of the magnetization of U _eff = 1541 wave number is also measured. The magnetic blocking temperature of T _B = 80 kelvin for this cation overcomes an essential barrier toward the development of nanomagnet devices that function at practical temperatures.

Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of macrocyclic Schiff base-supported homodinuclear lanthanide complexes

Five new homodinuclear lanthanide complexes with the general formula [(acac)4Ln2(L)] (Ln3+ = Dy3+ (1), Tb3+ (2), Ho3+ (3), Er3+ (4), and Gd (5)) were synthesized by one-pot [2 + 2] condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 1,3-diaminopropane in the presence of various lanthanide acetylacetonates. The eight-coordinate Ln(iii) centre adopts a slightly distorted square antiprism geometry with D4d symmetry. Theoretical analysis and magnetic measurements reveal that the corresponding Dy complex 1 exhibits slow magnetic relaxation behavior, characteristic of a typical SMM with the intramolecular ferromagnetic Dy3+Dy3+ interaction.

Modulating the Magnetic Interaction in New Triple-Decker Dysprosium(III) Single-Molecule Magnets

A new type of dinuclear dysprosium(III) complex based on phthalocyanine and salicylaldehyde derivatives (HL-R), [Dy₂(Pc)₂(L-R)₂(H₂O)]·2THF (R = OCH₃ (1), OC₂H₅ (2); H₂Pc = phthalocyanine; HL-OCH₃ = 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde; HL-OC₂H₅ = 3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde), was successfully synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 1 features a sandwich-type triple-decker structure, where two coplanar L-OCH₃ ligands lie in the middle layer shared by two eight-coordinated Dy^III ions and two Pc ligands are located in the outer layer. In 2, the introduction of an ethoxy group generates a noncoordination mode for the O_alkoxy atom. Magnetic studies indicate that complex 1 behaves as a zero-field single-molecule magnet with a higher energy barrier, while 2 exhibits a fast tunneling relaxation process. Theoretical calculations revealed that changes in the ligand field environment around Dy^III ions can significantly affect the arrangement of the main magnetic axes and further result in distinct magnetic interactions as well as different relaxation behaviors.

Supramolecular Approach for Enhancing Single-Molecule Magnet Properties of Terbium(III)-Phthalocyaninato Double-Decker Complexes with Crown Moieties

A Tb^III -phthalocyaninato double-decker ([1]⁰ ) single-molecule magnet (SMM) having four 15-crown-5 moieties in one of the ligands was synthesized, and its dimerization and magnetic properties were studied in an attempt to utilize the supramolecular aggregation for enhancing the SMM properties. Aggregation of [1]⁰ to form [1₂ K₄ ]⁴⁺ in the presence of K⁺ ions was studied by using UV/Vis-NIR absorption and NMR spectroscopies. For the magnetic measurements, [1]⁰ and [1₂ K₄ ]⁴⁺ were dispersed in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). UV/Vis-NIR absorption measurements on the PMMA dispersed samples were used to track the formation of [1₂ K₄ ]⁴⁺ . Direct current (DC) magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that there were ferromagnetic Tb-Tb interactions in [1₂ K₄ ]⁴⁺ , whereas there was no indication of ferromagnetic interactions in [1]⁰ . Upon the formation of [1₂ K₄ ]⁴⁺ from [1]⁰ and K⁺ ions, the temperature at which the magnetic hysteresis occurred increased from 7 to 15 K. In addition, the area of magnetic hysteresis became larger for [1₂ K₄ ]⁴⁺ , meaning that SMM properties of [1₂ K₄ ]⁴⁺ are superior to those of [1]⁰ . Alternating current (AC) magnetic measurements were used to confirm this observation. Magnetic relaxation times at 2 K increased 1000-fold upon dimerization of [1]⁰ to [1₂ K₄ ]⁴⁺ , demonstrating the effectiveness of using K⁺ ions to induce dimer formation for the improvement of the SMM properties.

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.

Self-assembly of rare octanuclear quad(double-stranded) cluster helicates showing slow magnetic relaxation and the magnetocaloric effect

Four rare structurally novel octanuclear quad(double-strands) cluster helicates containing Ln8 polyhedron cores have been synthesized. Magnetic studies show that the Gd derivative exhibits the magnetocaloric effect and the Dy derivative shows slow magnetic relaxation under zero dc field.

Single-molecule magnet properties of a monometallic dysprosium pentalene complex

The pentalene-ligated dysprosium complex [(η⁸-Pn^†)Dy(Cp*)] (1Dy) (Pn^† = [1,4-(ⁱPr₃Si)₂C₈H₄]²⁻) and its magnetically dilute analogue are single-molecule magnets, with energy barriers of 245 cm⁻¹.

End-to-end azido-pinned interlocking lanthanide squares

A self-assembled end-to-end azido-pinned interlocking lanthanide square displays a record energy barrier of 152(4) K among lanthanide azido-bridged SMMs in a zero dc field.

Slow magnetisation relaxation in tetraoxolene-bridged rare earth complexes

Two tetraoxolene-bridged dinuclear Dy(iii) complexes exhibit slow relaxation in ac magnetic susceptibility studies with zero-field quantum tunnelling of the magnetisation that is suppressed by the application of a dc magnetic field.

Asymmetry-unit-dominated double slow-relaxation modes of 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-heptanedione dysprosium SMMs

Two new β-diketone mononuclear dysprosium complexes exhibit two types of single and double relaxation modes under optimized DC field.