Pulsed electron spin nutation spectroscopy for weakly exchange-coupled multi-spin molecular systems with nuclear hyperfine couplings: a general approach to bi- and triradicals and determination of their spin dipolar and exchange interactions

Selective Transition Enhancement in a g-Engineered Diradical

A diradical with engineered g-asymmetry was synthesized by grafting a nitroxide radical onto the [Y(Pc)2]⋅ radical platform. Various spectroscopic techniques and computational studies revealed that the electronic structures of the two spin systems remained minimally affected within the diradical system. Fluid-solution Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) experiments revealed a weak exchange coupling with |J| ~ 0.014 cm-1, subsequently rationalized by CAS-SCF calculations. Frozen solution continuous-wave (CW) EPR experiments showed a complicated and power-dependent spectrum that eluded analysis using the point-dipole model. Pulse EPR manipulations with varying microwave powers, or under varying magnetic fields, demonstrated that different resonances could be selectively enhanced or suppressed, based on their different tipping angles. In particular, Field-Swept Echo-Detected (FSED) spectra revealed absorptions of MW power-dependent intensities, while Field-Swept Spin Nutation (FSSN) experiments revealed two distinct Rabi frequencies. This study introduces a methodology to synthesize and characterize g-asymmetric two-spin systems, of interest in the implementation of spin-based CNOT gates.

Title: experimental realisation of multi-qubit gates using electron paramagnetic resonance

Quantum information processing promises to revolutionise computing; quantum algorithms have been discovered that address common tasks significantly more efficiently than their classical counterparts. For a physical system to be a viable quantum computer it must be possible to initialise its quantum state, to realise a set of universal quantum logic gates, including at least one multi-qubit gate, and to make measurements of qubit states. Molecular Electron Spin Qubits (MESQs) have been proposed to fulfil these criteria, as their bottom-up synthesis should facilitate tuning properties as desired and the reproducible production of multi-MESQ structures. Here we explore how to perform a two-qubit entangling gate on a multi-MESQ system, and how to readout the state via quantum state tomography. We propose methods of accomplishing both procedures using multifrequency pulse Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and apply them to a model MESQ structure consisting of two nitroxide spin centres. Our results confirm the methodological principles and shed light on the experimental hurdles which must be overcome to realise a demonstration of controlled entanglement on this system.

(Pyrrole-2,5-Diyl)-Bis(Nitronyl Nitroxide) and-Bis(Iminonitroxide): Specific Features of the Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties

In contrast to diradicals connected by alternant hydrocarbons, only a few studies have addressed diradicals connected by nonalternant hydrocarbons and their heteroatom derivatives. Here, the synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of pyrrole-2,5-diyl-linked bis(nitronyl nitroxide) and bis(iminonitroxide) diradicals are described. The diradicals show characteristic electron spin resonance spectra in dilute glassy solutions, from which conclusions about the presence of distinct conformations, their symmetry, and interspin distance were made. X-ray diffraction analysis of the diradicals revealed that paramagnetic moieties lie in the plane of the pyrrole ring, because of the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond, O_NO…HN, with O…H distances of 2.15-2.23 Å. The N-O groups participating in the formation of H-bonds have greater bond lengths (~1.29 Å) as compared with nonparticipating groups (~1.27 Å). The nitronyl nitroxide and iminonitroxide diradicals showed an intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction, with J = -77.3 and -22.2 cm^-1, respectively (H = -2JS₁S₂).

Trityl-Aryl-Nitroxide-Based Genuinely g-Engineered Biradicals, As Studied by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization, Multifrequency ESR/ENDOR, Arbitrary Wave Generator Pulse Microwave Waveform Spectroscopy, and Quantum Chemical Calculations

Trityl and nitroxide radicals are connected by π-topologically controlled aryl linkers, generating genuinely g-engineered biradicals. They serve as a typical model for biradicals in which the exchange (J) and hyperfine interactions compete with the g-difference electronic Zeeman interactions. The magnetic properties underlying the biradical spin Hamiltonian for solution, including J's, have been determined by multifrequency CW-ESR and ¹H ENDOR spectroscopy and compared with those obtained by quantum chemical calculations. The experimental J values were in good agreement with the quantum chemical calculations. The g-engineered biradicals have been tested as a prototype for AWG (Arbitrary Wave Generator)-based spin manipulation techniques, which enable GRAPE (GRAdient Pulse Engineering) microwave control of spins in molecular magnetic resonance spectroscopy for use in molecular spin quantum computers, demonstrating efficient signal enhancement of specific weakened hyperfine signals. Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) effects of the biradicals for 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance signal enhancement have been examined, giving efficiency factors of 30 for ¹H and 27.8 for ¹³C nuclei. The marked DNP results show the feasibility of these biradicals for hyperpolarization.

(Azulene-1,3-diyl)-bis(nitronyl nitroxide) and (Azulene-1,3-diyl)-bis(iminonitroxide) and Their Copper Complexes

In contrast to diradicals connected by alternant hydrocarbons, only a few studies on those connected by nonalternant hydrocarbons have been reported. The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of azulene-1,3-diyl linked bis(nitronyl nitroxide) (NN₂ Az) and bis(iminonitroxide) (IN₂ Az) diradicals and their Cu(hfac)₂ (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate) complexes were investigated. NN₂ Az was shown to have an intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction with J_obs /k_B =+10.0 K (H=-2JS₁ ⋅S₂ ) between (nitronyl nitroxide) spins, whereas IN₂ Az was estimated to have a much weaker intramolecular magnetic interaction. The reactions of NN₂ Az and IN₂ Az with Cu(hfac)₂ gave a 1:2 [{Cu(hfac)₂ }₂ (NN₂ Az)] complex and a 1:1 [Cu(hfac)₂ (IN₂ Az)]⋅C₆ H₁₂ complex, respectively. [{Cu(hfac)₂ }₂ (NN₂ Az)] showed strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions (J_1-Cu-R /k_B ≈-800 K, J_2-Cu-R /k_B ≈-500 K) between the Cu^II spins and the coordinating NN spins, whereas [Cu(hfac)₂ (IN₂ Az)] exhibited a ferromagnetic exchange interaction (J_obs-Cu-R /k_B =+114 K) between the Cu^II spin and the imino-coordinated iminonitroxide spin.

An ab initio MO study of heavy atom effects on the zero-field splitting tensors of high-spin nitrenes: how the spin–orbit contributions are affected

The CASSCF and hybrid CASSCF–MRMP2 methods reproduce the ZFS tensors of spin-septet 2,4,6-trinitrenopyridines, focusing on the heavy atom effects on the spin–orbit terms of the tensors.