The effect of co-ligands on the performance of single-molecule magnet behaviours in a family of linear trinuclear Zn-Dy-Zn complexes with a compartmental Schiff base

We present herein magneto-structural studies of three heterometallic Zn2Dy complexes: [Zn2Dy(L)2Cl2(H2O)](ClO4)·4H2O (1), [Zn2Dy(L)2Br2(H2O)](ClO4)·4H2O (2) and [Zn2Dy(L)2(OAc)I(H2O)]I3·4H2O (3), utilizing a new Schiff base ligand, N,N'-bis(3-methoxy-5-methylsalicylidene)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (H2L). Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit remarkable magnetic relaxation behaviour with relatively high energy barriers in zero field (Ueff: 244 K for 1 and 211 K for 2) and notable hysteresis temperatures, despite the low local geometric symmetry around the central DyIII ions. The SMM performance of these complexes is further enhanced under an applied magnetic field, with Ueff increasing to 309 K for 1 and 269 K for 2, positioning them as elite members within the Zn-Dy SMM family. These findings emphasize the substantial influence of remote modulation on ZnII beyond the first coordination sphere of DyIII ions on their dynamic magnetic relaxation properties. Ab initio studies demonstrate that the relative orientation of the phenoxo-oxygen donor atoms around the DyIII ion is critical for determining the magnetic anisotropy and relaxation dynamics in these systems. Additionally, experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that the coordination of the bridging acetate towards the hard plane, combined with significant distortion from the ideal ZnO2Dy diamond core arrangement caused by the acetate ion, results in low magnetic anisotropy in complex 3, thereby leading to field-induced SMM behaviour. Overall, this study unveils the effects of co-ligands on the SMM performance in a series of linear trinuclear Zn-Dy-Zn complexes, which exhibit low local geometric symmetry around the DyIII centres.

Insight into ferromagnetic interactions in CuII-LnIII dimers with a compartmental ligand

In the last two decades, efforts have been devoted to obtaining insight into the magnetic interactions between CuII and LnIII utilizing experimental and theoretical means. Experimentally, it has been observed that the exchange coupling (J) in CuII-LnIII systems is often found to be ferromagnetic for ≥4f7 metal ions. However, exchange interactions at sub-Kelvin temperatures between CuII and the anisotropic/isotropic LnIII ions are not often explored. In this report, we have synthesized a series of heterobimetallic [CuLn(HL)(μ-piv)(piv)2] complexes (LnIII = Gd (1), Tb (2), Dy (3) and Er (4)) from a new compartmental Schiff base ligand, N,N'-bis(3-methoxy-5-methylsalicylidene)-1,3-diamino-2-propanol (H3L). X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals that all four complexes are isostructural and isomorphous. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal a ferromagnetic coupling between the CuII ion and its respective LnIII ion for all the complexes, as often observed. Moreover, μ-SQUID studies, at sub-Kelvin temperatures, show S-shaped hysteresis loops indicating the presence of antiferromagnetic coupling in complexes 1-3. The antiferromagnetic interaction is explained by considering the shortest Cu⋯Cu distance in the crystal structure. The nearly closed loops for 1-3 highlight their fast relaxation characteristics, while the opened loops for 4 might arise from intermolecular ordering. CASSCF calculations allow the quantitative assessment of the interactions, which are further supported by BS-DFT calculations.

Tetracoordinate Co(II) complexes with semi-coordination as stable single-ion magnets for deposition on graphene

We present a theoretical and experimental study of two tetracoordinate Co(II)-based complexes with semi-coordination interactions, i.e., non-covalent interactions involving the central atom. We argue that such interactions enhance the thermal and structural stability of the compounds, making them appropriate for deposition on substrates, as demonstrated by their successful deposition on graphene. DC magnetometry and high-frequency electron spin resonance (HF-ESR) experiments revealed an axial magnetic anisotropy and weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling in both compounds, supported by theoretical predictions from complete active space self-consistent field calculations complemented by N-electron valence state second-order perturbation theory (CASSCF-NEVPT2), and broken-symmetry density functional theory (BS-DFT). AC magnetometry demonstrated that the compounds are field-induced single-ion magnets (SIMs) at applied static magnetic fields, with slow relaxation of magnetization governed by a combination of quantum tunneling, Orbach, and direct relaxation mechanisms. The structural stability under ambient conditions and after deposition was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. Theoretical modeling by DFT of different configurations of these systems on graphene revealed n-type doping of graphene originating from electron transfer from the deposited molecules, confirmed by electrical transport measurements and Raman spectroscopy.

Magneto-structural studies on a number of doubly end-on cyanate and azide bridged dinuclear nickel(ii) complexes with {N3O} donor Schiff base ligands

Two new doubly μ 1,1-N3 bridged (1 and 3) and six new doubly μ 1,1-NCO bridged NiII complexes (2, 4-8) with six different N3O donor Schiff base ligands have been synthesized and magneto-structurally characterized. All these neutral complex molecules are isostructural and constitute edge sharing bioctahedral structures. Magnetic studies revealed that all these complexes exhibit ferromagnetic interaction through bridging pseudohalides with ferromagnetic coupling constant J being significantly higher for azide-bridged complexes than that of the cyanate analogues. This is consistent with the literature reported data and also the presence of polarizable π systems and two different N and O donor atoms in cyanate ion, rendering it a poor magnetic coupler in comparison to azide analogues. Although, the magneto-structurally characterized doubly μ 1,1-N3 bridged NiII complexes are abundant, only few such complexes with μ 1,1-bridging NCO- ions are reported in the literature. Remarkably, addition of these six new examples in this ever-growing series of doubly μ 1,1-NCO bridged systems gives us an opportunity to analyse the precise magneto-structural correlation in this system, showing a general trend in which the J value increases with an increase in bridging angles. Therefore, the high degree of structural and magnetic resemblances by inclusion of six new examples in this series is the major achievement of the present work. An elaborate DFT study was performed resulting in magneto-structural correlation showing that nature and value of the J-parameter is defined not only by Ni-Nb-Ni bond angles, but an important role is also played by the Ni1-Ni2-Nb-Xt dihedral angle (Nb and Xt are bridging N and terminal N or O atom of bridging ligands, respectively).

Hexanuclear Co4 Dy2 , Zn4 Dy2 , and Co4 Y2 Complexes with Defect Tetracubane Cores: Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Properties

A hexanuclear heterometallic cluster of composition [Dy₂ Co₄ (L)₄ (NO₃ )₂ (OH)₄ (C₂ H₅ OH)₂ ] ⋅ 2 C₂ H₅ OH (1) was synthesized by employing a Schiff base 2-(((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl) imino)methyl)-4-methoxyphenol (H₂ L) as ligand and utilizing Dy(NO₃ )₃  ⋅ 6H₂ O and Co(NO₃ )₂  ⋅ 6H₂ O as metal ion sources. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis indicated that complex 1 contains a defect tetracubane core and possesses central symmetric structure, with two Dy^III ions being in the central body position of the molecule and four Co^II ions being arranged at the outer sites. Magnetic studies reveal that complex 1 behaves as single-molecule magnet (SMM) with energy barrier of 27.50 K. To investigate the individual contribution of Dy^III and Co^II ions to the SMM behavior, another two complexes of formulae [Dy₂ Zn₄ (L)₄ (NO₃ )₂ (OH)₄ ] ⋅ 4CH₃ OH (2) and [Y₂ Co₄ (L)₄ (NO₃ )₂ (OH)₄ (C₂ H₅ OH)₂ ] ⋅ 2 C₂ H₅ OH (3) were prepared. Complexes 1 and 3 are isomorphous. The coordination geometries of Dy^III ions in 1 and 2 are different. The Dy^III ions are eight-coordinated in 2 and nine-coordinated in 1. Complex 2 exhibits SMM behavior with energy barrier of 69.67 K, but complex 3 does not display SMM property. These results reveal that the SMM behaviors of 1 and 2 are mainly originated from Dy^III ions. It might be the higher symmetry of Dy^III ions in 2 that results in the higher energy barrier.