A photochromic trinuclear dysprosium(iii) single-molecule magnet with two distinct relaxation processes

Multifunctional molecules responsive to light are highly desired as components for the construction of remotely controlled nanodevices. Here we present a DyIII single molecule magnet (SMM) comprising dithienylethene (dte) photochromic bridging ligands in the form of a pyridine (py) derivative: 1,2-bis((2-methyl-5-pyridyl)thie-3-yl)perfluorocyclo-pentene (dtepy). The title trinuclear compound {[DyIII(BHT)3]3(dtepy)2}·4C5H12 (1) was synthesized by combining the low-coordinate dysprosium complexes DyIII(BHT)3 (BHT = 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate) with dtepy bridging ligands in the 'open' form using n-pentane as a completely inert solvent. The trinuclear molecule comprises two different DyIII centers due to its quasi-linear geometry: a central trigonal bipyramidal DyIII ion and two peripheral ones with an approximate trigonal pyramidal geometry. Thanks to that, 1 shows two types of SMM behavior which is slightly affected by the photoisomerization of the photochromic dtepy bridges. The impact of the photoisomerization on the magnetization dynamics was studied by means of alternating current (AC) magnetic susceptibility measurements for the 'open' and 'closed' forms of the molecules. The changes between the 'open' and 'closed' isomers were further investigated by IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, suggesting the co-existence of the ligand-related photochromism and single-molecule magnet behavior in 1. However, the powder X-ray diffraction studies indicate loss of structural order in the first photoisomerization step preventing in-depth studies.

Luminescent Er3+ based single molecule magnets with fluorinated alkoxide or aryloxide ligands

We report the synthesis, structures, and magnetic and luminescence properties of a series of new mono- and dinuclear Er3+ complexes derived from sterically demanding aryloxide and fluorinated alkoxide ligands: [4-tBu-2,6-(Ph2CH)2C6H2O]3Er(THF) (1), [(C6F5)3CO]3Er(Me3SiOH) (2), [(C6F5)3CO]3Er[(Me3Si)2NH] (3), [(C6F5)3CO]3Er(C6H5CH3) (4), [(C6F5)3CO]3Er(o-Me2NC6H4CH3) (5) and {[Ph(CF3)2CO]2Er(μ2-OC(CF3)2Ph)}2 (6). In compounds 1, 2, and 4, the Er3+ ion is four-coordinated and adopts a distorted trigonal pyramidal geometry, while in 3, 5, and 6, the coordination geometry of Er3+ is impacted by the presence of several relatively short Er⋯F distances, making them rather 6-coordinated. All compounds behave as field-induced Single Molecule Magnets (SMMs) and exhibit an Er3+ characteristic near infrared (NIR) emission associated with the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition with a remarkably long lifetime going up to 73 μs, which makes them multifunctional luminescent SMMs. The deconvolution of the NIR emission spectra allowed us to provide a direct probe of the crystal field splitting in these compounds, which was correlated with magnetic data.

Ab initio-based determination of lanthanoid-radical exchange as visualised by inelastic neutron scattering

Magnetic exchange coupling can modulate the slow magnetic relaxation in single-molecule magnets. Despite this, elucidation of exchange coupling remains a significant challenge for the lanthanoid(iii) ions, both experimentally and computationally. In this work, the crystal field splitting and 4f-π exchange coupling in the erbium-semiquinonate complex [ErTp2dbsq] (Er-dbsq; Tp- = hydro-tris(1-pyrazolyl)borate, dbsqH2 = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-semiquinone) have been determined by inelastic neutron scattering (INS), magnetometry, and CASSCF-SO ab initio calculations. A related complex with a diamagnetic ligand, [ErTp2trop] (Er-trop; tropH = tropolone), has been used as a model for the crystal field splitting in the absence of coupling. Magnetic and INS data indicate antiferromagnetic exchange for Er-dbsq with a coupling constant of Jex = -0.23 meV (-1.8 cm-1) (-2Jex formalism) and good agreement is found between theory and experiment, with the low energy magnetic and spectroscopic properties well modelled. Most notable is the ability of the ab initio modelling to reproduce the signature of interference between localised 4f states and delocalised π-radical states that is evident in the Q-dependence of the exchange excitation. This work highlights the power of combining INS with EPR and magnetometry for determination of ground state properties, as well as the enhanced capability of CASSCF-SO ab initio calculations and purposely developed ab initio-based theoretical models. We deliver an unprecedentedly detailed representation of the entangled character of 4f-π exchange states, which is obtained via an accurate image of the spin-orbital transition density between the 4f-π exchange coupled wavefunctions.

Probing the magnetic and magneto-optical properties of a radical-bridged Tb4 single-molecule magnet

Reaction of the 1,2,4,5-tetrazine (tz˙-) radical and {Cp*2Tb}+ has yielded a tetranuclear radical-bridged TbIII single-molecule magnet. The strong Ln-radical coupling and the electronic differences of the TbIII ions in [(Cp*2Tb)4(tz˙-)4]·3C6H6 (1) are probed via magnetic, magneto-optical and computational studies.

Lanthanide-radical single-molecule magnets: current status and future challenges

In the field of molecular magnetism, the lanthanide-radical (Ln-Rad) method has become one of the most appealing tactics for introducing strong magnetic interactions and has spurred on the booming development of heterospin single-molecule magnets (SMMs). The article is a timely retrospect on the research progress of Ln-Rad heterospin systems and special attention is invested on low dimensional Ln-Rad compounds with SMM behavior, primarily concerning with nitrogen-based radicals, semiquinone and nitroxide radicals. Rational design, molecular structures, magnetic behaviors and magneto-structural correlations are highlighted. Meanwhile, particular attention is focused on the influence of exchange couplings on the dynamic magnetic properties, with the purpose of helping to guide the design of prospective radical-based Ln-SMMs.

Low-Coordinate Erbium(III) Single-Molecule Magnets with Photochromic Behavior

The structures and magnetic properties of photoresponsive magnets can be controlled or fine-tuned by visible light irradiation, which makes them appealing as candidates for ternary memory devices: photochromic and photomagnetic at the same time. One of the strategies for photoresponsive magnetic systems is the use of photochromic/photoswitchable molecules coordinated to paramagnetic metal centers to indirectly influence their magnetic properties. Herein, we present two erbium(III)-based coordination systems: a trinuclear molecule {[Er^III(BHT)₃]₃(dtepy)₂}^.4C₅H₁₂ (1) and a 1D coordination chain {[Er^III(BHT)₃(azopy)}_n·2C₅H₁₂ (2), where the bridging photochromic ligands belong to the class of diarylethenes: 1,2-bis((2-methyl-5-pyridyl)thie-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (dtepy) and 4,4′-azopyridine (azopy), respectively (BHT = 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate). Both compounds show slow dynamics of magnetization, typical for single-molecule magnets (SMMs) as revealed by alternating current (AC) magnetic susceptibility measurements. The trinuclear compound 1 also shows an immediate color change from yellow to dark blue in response to near-UV irradiation. Such behavior is typical for the photoisomerization of the open form of the ligand into its closed form. The color change can be reversed by exposing the closed form to visible light. The chain-like compound 2, on the other hand, does not show significant signs of the expected trans–cis photoisomerization of the azopyridine in response to UV irradiation and does not appear to show photoswitching behavior.

Three-coordinate [Er^III(BHT)₃] single ion magnets undergo ligand addition reaction in pentane to form linear trinuclear photochromic nanomagnets where both functionalities persist.

An intermetallic molecular nanomagnet with the lanthanide coordinated only by transition metals

Magnetic molecules known as molecular nanomagnets (MNMs) may be the key to ultra-high density data storage. Thus, novel strategies on how to design MNMs are desirable. Here, inspired by the hexagonal structure of the hardest intermetallic magnet SmCo₅, we have synthesized a nanomagnetic molecule where the central lanthanide (Ln) Er^III is coordinated solely by three transition metal ions (TM) in a perfectly trigonal planar fashion. This intermetallic molecule [Er^III(Re^ICp₂)₃] (ErRe₃) starts a family of molecular nanomagnets (MNM) with unsupported Ln-TM bonds and paves the way towards molecular intermetallics with strong direct magnetic exchange interactions-a promising route towards high-performance single-molecule magnets.

Low-Coordinate Dinuclear Dysprosium(III) Single Molecule Magnets Utilizing LiCl as Bridging Moieties and Tris(amido)amine as Blocking Ligands

A low-coordinate dinuclear dysprosium complex {[Dy(N3N)(THF)][LiCl(THF)]}2 (Dy2) with a double bridging ‘LiCl’ moiety and tris(amido)amine (N3N)3− anions as a blocking ligand is synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Thanks to the use of the chelating blocking ligand (N3N)3− equipped with large steric –SiMe3 groups, the coordination sphere of both DyIII ions is restricted to only six donor atoms. The three amido nitrogen atoms determine the orientation of the easy magnetization axes of both DyIII centers. Consequently, Dy2 shows slow magnetic relaxation typical for single molecule magnets (SMMs). However, the effective energy barrier for magnetization reversal determined from the AC magnetic susceptibility measurements is much lower than the separation between the ground and the first excited Kramers doublet based on the CASSCF ab initio calculations. In order to better understand the possible influence of the anticipated intramolecular magnetic interactions in this dinuclear molecule, its GdIII-analog {[Gd(N3N)(THF)][LiCl(THF)]}2 (Gd2) is also synthesized and studied magnetically. Detailed magnetic measurements reveal very weak antiferromagnetic interactions in Gd2. This in turn suggests similar antiferromagnetic interactions in Dy2, which might be responsible for its peculiar SMM behavior and the absence of the magnetic hysteresis loop.