Lanthanoid pyridyl-β-diketonate 'triangles'. New examples of single molecule toroics

Self-Assembled Lanthanide Phosphinate Square Grids (Ln = Er, Dy, and Tb): Dy4 Shows SMM/SMT and Tb4 SMT Behavior

Tetranuclear [2 × 2] square-grid-like LnIII clusters have been synthesized by reacting LnCl3·6H2O salts with bis[α-hydroxy(p-bromophenyl)methyl]phosphinic acid [R2PO2H, where R = CH(OH)PhBr] and pivalic acid. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies show the formation of [Me4N]2[Ln4(μ2-η1:η1-PO2R2)8(η2-CO2But)4(μ4-CO3)] [Ln = Er (1), Dy (2), and Tb (3)]. Direct-current studies reveal significant ferromagnetic interactions between DyIII in 2 and TbIII in 3 and an antiferromagnetic interaction between ErIII in 1. Dynamic magnetic susceptibility measurements confirm a single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior in both 0 and 1200 Oe applied magnetic fields for 2. Complexes 2 and 3 show single molecular toroic (SMT) behavior with a mixed magnetic moment.

Diverse Coordination Modes and Bidirectional Noninnocence of Pyridyl-β-diketonate on Ruthenium Platforms as a Function of Coligands

The article demonstrated diverse binding modes of deprotonated 1,3-di(2-pyridinyl)-1,3-propanedione (HL) (κ2-[O,O]-, κ2-[N,O]-, and μ-bis-κ2-[N,O]-) on selective ruthenium platforms: Ru(acac)2 (dimeric [1]ClO4), Ru(bpy)2 (monomeric [2]ClO4), Ru(pap)2 (isomeric monomeric [3]ClO4/[4]ClO4, dimeric [5](ClO4)3), and Ru(PPh3)2(CO) (monomeric 6, isomeric dimeric [7]ClO4/[8]ClO4) (acac = acetylacetonate, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, pap = 2-phenylazopyridine). Structural authentication of the complexes revealed (i) diverse binding mode of L- including its unprecedented bridging mode in [8]ClO4, (ii) varying degrees of nonplanarity of L-, and (iii) development of 1D polymeric chains or dimeric/tetrameric forms via intermolecular π-π interactions. The preferential binding feature of L- in the complexes could also be corroborated by their calculated relative energies. The analysis of the multiredox steps of the complexes suggested severe mixing of metal-ligand frontier orbitals, which in effect pinpointed the involvement of L- in both the oxidative and reductive processes along the redox chain, suggesting its bidirectional noninnocence under the present coordination situations. Though α-diketone or β-diketiminate was reported to activate O2 on the selective Ru(acac)2 platform, the inability of analogous β-diketonate-derived [1]ClO4 could be attributed to its calculated greater HOMO-LUMO energy gap, which disfavored electron exchange at the metal(RuIII)-ligand(L-) interface to introduce the required unpaired spin at the ligand backbone toward the 3O2 activation event.

Chiral Zn3Ln3 Hexanuclear Clusters of an Achiral Flexible Ligand

Multifunctional single-molecule magnets (SMMs) have sparked great interest, but chiral SMMs obtained via spontaneous resolution are rarely reported. We synthesized a series of chiral trinuclear hepta-coordinate lanthanide complexes [ZnII3LnIII3] (1 for Dy, 2 for Tb, 3 for Gd, and 4 for Dy0.07Y0.93) using the achiral flexible ligand H2L (2,2'-[1,2-ethanediylbis[(ethylimino)methylene]]bis[3,5-dimethylphenol]). The complexes crystallize in the chiral P63 group space, and two enantiomers of different chirality are spontaneously resolved. Three [Zn(L)Cl]- anions utilize the two phenoxy oxygen atoms of each L2- to coordinate with three lanthanide ions, respectively, and the three hepta-coordinate D5h lanthanide ions are arranged in a triangle. The chirality comes from the propeller arrangement of the peripheral three bidentate chelate L2- ligands like octahedral [M(AA)3]n+/- (M = transition metal ions; AA = bidentate chelate ligands, e.g., 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenathroline, ethylenediamine, acac- or oxalate). Complex 1 exhibits an AC susceptibility signal and is frequency-dependent, which is typical of SMMs. Complex 4, doped with a large amount of diamagnetic Y(III) in Dy(III), exhibits Ueff = 48.3 K and τ0 = 4.4 × 10-8 s in experiments. Complex 2 shows circularly polarized luminescence and apparent photoluminescence, typical of the f-f transitions of Tb(III).

Toroidal moment and dynamical control in luminescent 1D and 3D terbium calixarene compounds

A toroidal moment can be generated spontaneously in inorganic (atom-based) ferrotoroidic materials that breaks both time-reversal and space-inversion symmetries, attracting great attention in solid-state chemistry and physics. In the field of molecular magnetism, it can also be achieved in lanthanide (Ln) involved metal-organic complexes usually with a wheel-shaped topological structure. Such complexes are called single-molecule toroics (SMTs), presenting unique advantages in spin chirality qubits and magnetoelectric coupling. However, to date, the synthetic strategies of SMTs have remained elusive, and the covalently bonded three-dimensional (3D) extended SMT has not hitherto been synthesized. Here, two luminescent Tb(iii)-calixarene aggregates with architectures of 1D chain (1) and 3D network (2) both containing the square Tb₄ unit have been prepared. Their SMT characteristics deriving from the toroidal arrangement of the local magnetic anisotropy axes of Tb(iii) ions in the Tb₄ unit have been investigated experimentally with the support of ab initio calculations. To the best of our knowledge, 2 is the first covalently bonded 3D SMT polymer. Remarkably, solvato-switching of SMT behavior has also been achieved for the first time by desolvation and solvation processes of 1.

Mechanochemical Syntheses of Ln(hfac)3(H2O)x (Ln = La-Sm, Tb): Isolation of 10-, 9-, and 8-Coordinate Ln(hfac)n Complexes

Volatile lanthanide coordination complexes are critical to the generation of new optical and magnetic materials. One of the most common precursors for preparing volatile lanthanide complexes is the hydrate with the general formula Ln(hfac)₃(H₂O)_x (x = 3 for La-Nd, x = 2 for Sm) (hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato). We have investigated the synthesis of Ln(hfac)₃(H₂O)_x using more environmentally sustainable mechanochemical approaches. Characterization of the products using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction shows substantial differences in product distribution between methods. The mechanochemical synthesis of the hydrate complexes leads to a variety of coordination compounds including the expected hydrate product, the known retro-Claisen impurity, and hydrated protonated Hhfac ligand depending on the technique employed. Surprisingly, 10-coordinate complexes of the form Na₂Ln(hfac)₅·3H₂O for Ln = La-Nd were also isolated from reactions using a mortar and pestle. The electrostatic bonding of lanthanide coordination complexes is a challenge for obtaining reproducible reactions and clean products. The reproducibility issues are most acute for the large, early lanthanides whereas for the mid to late lanthanides, reproducibility in terms of product distribution and yield is less of an issue because of their smaller size and greater charge to radius ratio. Ball milling increases reproducibility in terms of generating the desired Ln(hfac)₃(H₂O)_x along with hydrated Hhfac (tetraol) and free Hhfac products. The results illustrate the dynamic behavior of lanthanide complexes in solution and the solid state as well as the structural diversity available to the early lanthanides.

Mechanochemical reactions to prepare Ln(hfac)₃(H₂O)_x (Ln = La-Sm, Tb) complexes are used to illustrate the highly variable coordination chemistry of the early lanthanides compared to the mid-lanthanides. Using either a mortar and pestle or ball mill results in unexpected products and different product distributions. An open mortar and pestle can yield 10-coordinate pentakis-hfac complexes of La, Ce, Pr, and Nd, whereas ball milling consistently results in Ln(hfac)₃(H₂O)_x complexes with volatile Hhfac and hydrated Hhfac·2H₂O (tetraol) that can be removed by vacuum.

Slow magnetic relaxation in a Dy3 triangle and a bistriangular Dy6 cluster

Two lanthanide single-molecule magnets (SMMs) [Dy₃(μ₃-OH)(HL-1)₃(H₂O)₃](NO₃)₂·3H₃O (1, H₃L-1 = (E)-3-(((8-hydroxyquinolin-2-yl)methylene)amino)propane-1,2-diol) and [Dy₆(μ₃-OH)₄(H₂L-2)₄(HL-2)₂(L-2)₂] (2, H₃L-2 = (E)-2-hydroxy-N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide) were synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Complex 1 contains a triangular Dy₃ core in which the three Dy³⁺ ions share a μ₃-OH^- anion and the deprotonated ligands of (HL-1)^2- serve both capping and bridging functions, while 2 displays a centrosymmetric hexanuclear Dy^III structure with two similar Dy₃ triangular cores ligated by two fully deprotonated (L-2)^3- ligands, each of which shares two μ₃-OH^- anions. All the Dy^III ions are eight-coordinated with quasi D_2d or C_2v symmetry. Magnetic studies reveal that 1 exhibited two-step magnetic relaxation under an applied dc field of 800 Oe, with effective energy barriers of 40.1 and 31.0 K for the slow relaxation (SR) and fast relaxation regimes (FR), respectively. Meanwhile, 2 only showed a tail of slow magnetic relaxation at above 2 K. Ab initio calculations have been carried out to show the nature of their different magnetic properties.

Strategies to Design Single-Molecule Toroics Using Triangular {Ln3} n Motifs

In this mini-review, we highlight the research advanced in the field of single-molecule toroics (SMTs) with a specific focus on the triangular Ln₃-based SMTs. SMTs are molecules with a toroidal magnetic state and are insensitive to homogeneous magnetic fields but cooperate with charge and spin currents. The rapid growth in the area of SMTs witnessed in recent years is correlated not only to the interest to understand the fundamental physics of these molecules but also to the intriguing potential applications proposed, as the SMTs have several advantages compared to other classes of molecules such as single-molecule magnets (SMMs). The important chemico-structural strategy in SMT chemistry is to choose and design ligand and bridging species that will help to attain toroidal behavior. Considering this primarily, all the Dy₃ SMTs reported so far are summarized, showing how utilizing different peripheral ligands influences the toroidal nature beyond the role of the symmetry of the molecule and stronger dipolar interactions. Likewise, linking Dy₃ toroidal units through 3d ions with suitable peripheral/bridging ligands enhances the toroidal magnetic moment and leads to fascinating physics of ferrotoroidal/antiferrotoridal behavior. Further, we have also summarized the recently reported non-Dy triangular SMTs.