Magnetic behavior and ground spin states for coordination {L·[MII(Hal)2]3}3- assemblies (Hal = Cl or I) of radical trianion hexacyanohexaazatriphenylenes (L) with three coordinated high-spin FeII (S = 2) or CoII (S = 3/2) centers

A series of trianion assemblies of hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile {HAT(CN)6} and hexaazatrinaphthylenehexacarbonitrile {HATNA(CN)6} with three Fe(II) or Co(II) ions: {cryptand(K+)}3·{HATNA(CN)6·(FeIII2)3}3-·2C6H4Cl2 (1), {cryptand(K+)}3·{HATNA(CN)6·(CoIII2)3}3-·2C6H4Cl2 (2), and (CV+)3·{HAT(CN)6·(CoIICl2)3}3-·0.5(CVCl)·2.5C6H4Cl2 (3) are synthesized (CVCl = crystal violet). Salt 1 has a χMT value of 9.80 emu K mol-1 at 300 K, indicating a contribution of three high-spin FeII (S = 2) and one S = 1/2 of HATNA(CN)6˙3-. The χMT value increases with cooling up to 12.92 emu K mol-1 at 28 K, providing a positive Weiss temperature of +20 K. Such behavior is described using a strong antiferromagnetic coupling between S = 2 and S = 1/2 with J1 = -82.1 cm-1 and a weaker FeII-FeII antiferromagnetic coupling with J2 = -7.0 cm-1. As a result, the spins of three Fe(II) ions (S = 2) align parallel to each other forming a high-spin S = 11/2 system. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support a high-spin state of CoII (S = 3/2) for 2 and 3. However, the χMT value of 2 and 3 is 2.25 emu K mol-1 at 300 K, which is smaller than 6 emu K mol-1 calculated for the system with three independent S = 3/2 and one S = 1/2 spins. In contrast to 1, the χMT values decrease with cooling to 0.13-0.36 emu K mol-1 at 1.9 K, indicating that spins of cobalt atoms align antiparallel to each other. Data fitting using PHI software for the model consisting of three high-spin Co(II) ions and an S = 1/2 radical ligand shows very large CoII-L˙3- coupling for 2 and 3 with J1 values of -442 and -349 cm-1. The CoII-CoII coupling via the ligand (J2) is also large, being -100 and -84 cm-1, respectively, which is more than 10 times larger than that of 1. One of the reasons for the J2 increase may be the shortening of the Co-N(L) bonds in 3 and 2 to 2.02(2) and 1.993(12) Å. DFT calculations support the population of the quartet state for the Co3 system, whereas the high-spin decet (S = 9/2) state is positioned higher by 680 cm-1 and is not populated at 300 K. This is explained by the large CoII-CoII coupling. Thus, a balance between J1 and J2 couplings provides parallel or antiparallel alignment of the FeII and CoII spins, leading to high- or low-spin ground states of {L·[MII(Hal)2]3}3-.

Photoinduced Ligand-to-Metal Charge Transfer of Cobaltocene: Radical Release and Catalytic Cyclotrimerization

Irradiation of cobalt metallocenes at the ligand-to-metal charge transfer energies results in the labilization of the cyclopentadienyl-cobalt bond and radical release. The cyclopentadienyl radical is detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy using a spin trap and can also be chemically trapped using hydrogen-atom-donating reagents. This reaction presents a new photochemical method of generating new cobalt complexes or of forming cyclopentadienyl cobalt(I) species that are active for catalytic [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerization reactions. More importantly, these results also show that cobaltocene should not be considered as a photostable redox reagent under many conditions, including those relevant to photovoltaics or photocatalysis.

Molecular Magnetic Materials Based on {Co III (Tp*)(CN) 3 } − Cyanidometallate: Combined Magnetic, Structural and 59 Co NMR Study

The cyanidocobaltate of formula fac‐PPh₄[Co^III(^Me2Tp)(CN)₃] ⋅ CH₃CN (1) has been used as a metalloligand to prepare polynuclear magnetic complexes (^Me2Tp=hydrotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate). The association of 1 with in situ prepared [Fe^II(bik)₂(MeCN)₂](OTf)₂ (bik=bis(1‐methylimidazol‐2‐yl)ketone) leads to a molecular square of formula {[Co^III{(^Me2Tp)}(CN)₃]₂[Fe^II(bik)₂]₂}(OTf)₂ ⋅ 4MeCN ⋅ 2H₂O (2), whereas the self‐assembly of 1 with preformed cluster [Co^II₂(OH₂)(piv)₄(Hpiv)₄] in MeCN leads to the two‐dimensional network of formula {[Co^II₂(piv)₃]₂[Co^III(^Me2Tp)(CN)₃]₂ ⋅ 2CH₃CN}_∞ (3). These compounds were structurally characterized via single crystal X‐ray analysis and their spectroscopic (FTIR, UV‐Vis and ⁵⁹Co NMR) properties and magnetic behaviours were also investigated. Bulk magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that 1 is diamagnetic and 3 is paramagnetic throughout the explored temperature range, whereas 2 exhibits sharp spin transition centered at ca. 292 K. Compound 2 also exhibits photomagnetic effects at low temperature, selective light irradiations allowing to promote reversibly and repeatedly low‐spin⇔high‐spin conversion. Besides, the diamagnetic nature of the Co(III) building block allows us studying these compounds by means of ⁵⁹Co NMR spectroscopy. Herein, a ⁵⁹Co chemical shift has been used as a magnetic probe to corroborate experimental magnetic data obtained from bulk magnetic susceptibility measurements. An influence of the magnetic state of the neighbouring atoms is observed on the ⁵⁹Co NMR signals. Moreover, for the very first time, ⁵⁹Co NMR technique has been successfully introduced to investigate molecular materials with distinct magnetic properties.

Symmetry-Breaking Phase Transitions, Dielectric and Magnetic properties of Pyrrolidinium-Tetrahalidocobaltates

We report the physicochemical characteristics of novel Co-based pyrrolidinium analogs: (C4H10N)2CoCl4 (PCC) and (C4H10N)2CoBr4 (PCB). Both compounds consist of the zero-dimensional (OD) anionic network and disordered pyrolidinium cations. The structural...

Novel tetrahedral cobalt(ii) silanethiolates: structures and magnetism

Three heteroleptic complexes of Co(ii) tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolates have been synthesized with piperidine [Co{SSi(OtBu)3}2(ppd)2] 1, piperazine [Co{SSi(OtBu)3}2(NH3)]2(μ-ppz)·2CH3CN 2, and N-ethylimidazole [Co{SSi(OtBu)3}2(etim)2] 3. The complexes have been characterized by a single-crystal X-ray, revealing their tetrahedral geometry on Co(ii) coordinated by two nitrogen and two sulfur atoms. Complexes 1 and 3 are mononuclear, whereas 2 is binuclear. The spectral properties and thermal properties of 1-3 complexes were established by FTIR spectroscopy for solid samples and TGA. The magnetic properties of complexes 1, 2, and 3 have been investigated by static magnetic measurements and X-band EPR spectroscopy. These studies have shown that 1 and 3, regardless of the similarity in structure of CoN2S2 cores, demonstrate different types of local magnetic anisotropy. Magnetic investigations of 2 reveal the presence of weak antiferromagnetic intra-molecular Co(ii)-Co(ii) interactions that are strongly influenced by the local magnetic anisotropy of individual Co(ii) ions.

Structural, magnetic and spectral properties of tetrahedral cobalt(ii) silanethiolates: a variety of structures and manifestation of field-induced slow magnetic relaxation

Blue crystals of five heteroleptic cobalt(ii) silanethiolates 1-5 have been obtained by the reaction of [Co{SSi(tBuO)3}2(NH3)]2 with aminopyridines and aminomethylpyridines at an appropriate molar ratio and their structural, spectral, thermal and magnetic properties have been established and described. All complexes 1-5 contain Co(ii) ions in a tetrahedral CoN2S2 environment formed by (tBuO)3SiS- residues and pyridines and present variable structures. Complexes 1-3 are mononuclear [Co{SSi(tBuO)3}2(L1)2] (L1 = 2-aminopyridine 2AP, 3-aminopyridine 3AP, and 4-aminopyridine 4AP). The application of 3AMP and 4AMP (3-aminomethylpyridine and 4-aminomethylpyridine) allows either dinuclear complex 4 [Co{SSi(tBuO)3}2(μ-3AMP)]2 or 1D coordination polymer 5 with the formula of [Co{SSi(tBuO)3}2(μ-4AMP)]n to be obtained. The molecular structures of 1-5 were determined by single-crystal X-ray and powder diffraction, UV-vis and FTIR spectrocopy for solid samples and their thermal properties were characterized by TG-DSC and TG-FTIR methods. The dc and ac magnetic and EPR studies of polycrystalline samples have been performed. For all complexes, the obtained data show a behavior typical of paramagnetic high-spin Co(ii) ions in a tetrahedral geometry, with a considerable contribution of the ZFS effect in a low temperature range. All complexes were also probed for SIM behavior. The modeling of the magnetic and EPR data was done for samples 1, 3, 4 and 5 to estimate ZFS parameters. The obtained results imply a negative value of the axial parameter D in complex 4 and positive D values for the rest of the compounds. A comparative magneto-structural analysis of complexes 4 and 5 points to the high sensitivity of the single-ion magnetic anisotropy of tetrahedral Co(ii) complexes to subtle changes in the first and second coordination spheres of Co(ii) ions.

Spectroscopic characterization of the Co-substituted C-terminal domain of rubredoxin-2

Pseudomonas putida rubredoxin-2 (Rxn2) is an essential member of the alkane hydroxylation pathway and transfers electrons from a reductase to the membrane-bound hydroxylase. The regioselective hydroxylation of linear alkanes is a challenging chemical transformation of great interest for the chemical industry. Herein, we report the preparation and spectroscopic characterization of cobalt-substituted P. putida Rxn2 and a truncated version of the protein consisting of the C-terminal domain of the protein. Our spectroscopic data on the Co-substituted C-terminal domain supports a high-spin Co(II) with a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment. Investigation of the two-domain protein Rxn2 provides insights into the metal-binding properties of the N-terminal domain, the role of which is not well understood so far. Circular dichroism, electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray absorption spectroscopies support an alternative Co-binding site within the N-terminal domain, which appears to not be relevant in nature. We have shown that chemical reconstitution in the presence of Co leads to incorporation of Co(II) into the active site of the C-terminal domain, but not the N-terminal domain of Rxn2 indicating distinct roles for the two rubredoxin domains.

Transformation of the coordination complex [Co(C3S5)2]2- from a molecular magnet to a potential qubit

We employ ac susceptibility as a probe of small changes of transverse zero-field splitting, revealing that these subtle changes transform [Co(C₃S₅)₂]^2– from a molecular magnet to a candidate qubit.

Mononuclear transition metal complexes demonstrate significant potential in the divergent applications of spintronics and quantum information processing. The facile tunability of these complexes enables structure function correlations for a plethora of relevant magnetic quantities. We present a series of pseudotetrahedral [Co(C₃S₅)₂]^2– complexes with varying deviations from D_2d symmetry to investigate the influence of structural distortions on spin relaxation dynamics and qubit viability, as tuned by the variable transverse magnetic anisotropy, E. To overcome the traditional challenge of measuring E in species where D ≫ E, we employed a different approach of harnessing ac magnetic susceptibility to probe the emergence of quantum tunneling of magnetization as a proxy for E. Across the range of values for E in the series, we observe magnetic hysteresis for the smallest value of E. The hysteresis disappears with increasing E, concomitant with the appearance of an observable, low frequency (L-band) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal, indicating the potential to controllably shift the molecule's utilization from classical to quantum information processing applications. The development of design principles for molecular magnet information processing requires separate design principles for classical versus quantum regimes. Here we show for the first time how subtle structural changes can switch the utility of a complex between these two types of applications.

A flexible iron(ii) complex in which zero-field splitting is resistant to structural variation

The zero-field splitting parameters D and E in the iron(ii) complex [Fe(C₃S₅)₂]^2– are shown to be remarkably resistant to a twist of the inter-ligand dihedral angle (θ_d) from 90 to 70°.

The relationship between electronic structure and zero-field splitting dictates key design parameters for magnetic molecules. In particular, to enable the directed synthesis of new electronic spin based qubits, developing complexes where zero-field splitting energies are invariant to structural changes is a critical challenge. Toward those ends, we report three salts of a new compound, a four-coordinate iron(ii) complex [Fe(C₃S₅)₂]^2– ([(18-crown-6)K]⁺ (1), Ph₄P⁺ (2), Bu₄N⁺ (3)) with a continuous structural variation in a single parameter, the dihedral angle (θ_d) between the two C₃S₅^2– ligands, as a function of counterion (θ_d = 89.98(4)° for 1 to 72.41(2)° for 3). Electron paramagnetic resonance data for 1–3 reveal zero-field splitting parameters that are unusually robust to the structural variation. Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements indicate that the structural variation in θ_d primarily affects the highest-energy 3d-orbitals (d_xz and d_yz) of the iron(ii) ion. These orbitals have the smallest impact on the zero-field splitting parameters, thus the distortion has a minor effect on D and E. These results represent the first part of a directed effort to understand how spin state energies may be fortified against structural distortions for future applications of qubits in non-crystalline environments.

Multifrequency EPR study of Fe3+ and Co2+ in the active site of desulforedoxin

The understanding of the electronic structure of S > 1/2 transition-metal sites that show a large zero-field splitting (ZFS) of the magnetic sublevels benefits greatly from study by electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at frequencies above the standard 9.5 GHz. However, high-frequency EPR spectroscopy is technically challenging and still developing. Particularly the sensitivity of high-frequency EPR spectrometers is often too low to apply the technique in the study of transition-metal sites in proteins and enzymes. Here we report a multifrequency EPR study (at 9.5, 94.9, and 275.7 GHz) of the active site of the protein desulforedoxin, both in its natural Fe(3+) form and substituted with Co(2+). The 275.7 GHz EPR spectra made it possible to determine the ZFS parameters of the Fe(3+) site with high precision. No 275.7 GHz spectrum could be observed of the Co(2+) site, but based on 9.5 GHz spectra, its ZFS parameters could be estimated. We find that the typical variation in the geometry of the active site of a protein or enzyme, referred to as conformational strain, does not only make the detection of EPR spectra challenging, but also their analysis. Comparison of the EPR results on the active site of desulforedoxin to those of the closely related active site of rubredoxin illustrates the necessity of explicit quantum-chemical calculations in order to interrelate the electronic and geometric structure of biological transition-metal sites.

Slow magnetic relaxation at zero field in the tetrahedral complex [Co(SPh)4]2-

The Ph(4)P(+) salt of the tetrahedral complex [Co(SPh)(4)](2-), possessing an S = (3)/(2) ground state with an axial zero-field splitting of D = -70 cm(-1), displays single-molecule magnet behavior in the absence of an applied magnetic field. At very low temperatures, ac magnetic susceptibility data show the magnetic relaxation time, τ, to be temperature-independent, while above 2.5 K thermally activated Arrhenius behavior is apparent with U(eff) = 21(1) cm(-1) and τ(0) = 1.0(3) × 10(-7) s. Under an applied field of 1 kOe, τ more closely approximates Arrhenius behavior over the entire temperature range. Upon dilution of the complex within a matrix of the isomorphous compound (Ph(4)P)(2)[Zn(SPh)(4)], ac susceptibility data reveal the molecular nature of the slow magnetic relaxation and indicate that the quantum tunneling pathway observed at low temperatures is likely mediated by intermolecular dipolar interactions.

A Series of Cyanide-Bridged Binuclear Complexes

A series of cyanide-bridged binuclear complexes, ('S(3)')Ni-CN-M[Tp(tBu)] ('S(3)' = bis(2-mercaptophenyl)sulfide, Tp(tBu) = hydrotris(3-tert-butylpyrazolyl)borate, M = Fe (2-Fe), Co (2-Co), Ni (2-Ni), Zn (2-Zn)) was prepared by the coupling of K[('S(3)')Ni(CN)] with [Tp(tBu)]MX. The isostructural series of complexes was structurally and spectroscopically characterized. A similar coupling strategy was used to synthesize the anionic copper(I) analogue, Et4N{('S3')Ni-CN-Cu[Tp(tBu)]}, 2-Cu.An alternative synthesis was devised for the preparation of the linkages isomers of 2-Zn, i.e. of cyanide-bridged linkage isomers. X-ray diffraction, (13)C NMR and IR spectral studies established that isomerization to the more stable Ni-CN-Zn isomer occurs. DFT computational results buttressed the experimental observations indicating that the cyanide-bridged isomer is ca. 5 kcal/mol more stable than its linkage isomer.

Structural, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of M[R2P(E)NP(E)R′2]2complexes, M = Co, Mn, E = S, Se and R, R′ = Ph oriPr. Covalency of M–S bonds from experimental data and theoretical calculations

The S/Se-containing bidentate ligands LH of the type R2P(E)NHP(E)R'2, E = S, Se and R, R' = Ph or iPr have been employed to synthesize ML2 (M = Mn, Co) complexes which contain the biologically important MS4 core. Theoretical calculations on the LH and L- forms of the ligands probe the geometric and electronic changes induced by the deprotonation of the LH form, which are correlated with structural data from X-ray crystallography. These results reflect the flexibility of the ligands, which enables them to be rather versatile with respect to the formation of ML2 complexes with varied geometries and MEPNPE metallacycle conformations. A series of old and new ML2 complexes have been synthesized and their structural, spectroscopic and magnetic properties characterized in detail. The nephelauxetic ratio beta of the CoL2 complexes provides evidence of covalent interactions, whereas the EPR properties of the MnL2 complexes are interpreted on the basis of predominant ionic interactions, between the metal center and the ligands, respectively. Additional evidence for the existence of covalent interactions in the CoL2 complexes (R = Ph, iPr, or mixed Ph/iPr), is offered by comparisons between their 31P NMR. The aforementioned notations are supported by extensive theoretical calculations on the ML2 (E = S, R = Me) modelled structures, which probe the covalent and ionic character of the M-S bonds when M = Co or Mn. Wider implications of the findings of the present study on the M-S covalency and its importance in the active sites of various metalloenzymes are also discussed.

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of ferric cytochrome c' from photosynthetic bacteria

Electronic ground nature of ferric cytochromes c' isolated from five photosynthetic bacteria. Chromatium vinosum ATCC 17899, Rhodobacter capsulatus ATCC 11166, Rhodopseudomonas palustris ATCC 17001, Rhodospirillum molischianum ATCC 14031, and Rhodospirillum rubrum ATCC 11170 has been investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. EPR spectra indicate that the electronic ground state of five ferric cytochromes c' is a quantum mechanical admixed-spin state of a high spin (S = 5/2) and an intermediate spin (S = 3/2) at pH 7.2 and is high-spin state at pH 11.0. At physiological pH, however, the content of an intermediate spin state differs with the bacterial source of the protein: approximately 50%, Chromatium vinosum; approximately 40%, Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodopseudomonas palustris; approximately 10%, Rhodospirillum molischianum and Rhodospirillum rubrum. Computer simulation of the spectra supports this diversity of the contribution of an intermediate spin state. Model studies of the ferric porphyrin complexes suggest that the correlation between content of an intermediate spin state and heme iron displacement from the mean heme plane. Therefore, the variation of the content of an intermediate spin state observed in the present study reflects the subtle difference in the degree of heme iron displacement among the proteins.

Spectroscopic studies on metal distribution in Co(II)/Zn(II) mixed-metal clusters in rabbit liver metallothionein 2

Metal selectivity of metal-thiolate clusters in rabbit liver metallothionein (MT) 2 has been studied by examining the metal distribution of two similarly sized divalent metal ions, cobalt and zinc, which have different thiolate affinity. The forms of mixed-metal cluster species in (Co/Zn)7-MT generated with different ratios of both metal ions offered to the metal-free protein were investigated using EPR, ultraviolet/visible absorption and MCD spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the distribution of these metals between the two metal-thiolate clusters is not random. Thus, the EPR absorption intensities of the bound Co(II) ions in the Zn-cluster matrix increased linearly up to a ratio of Co(II)/Zn(II) equivalents of 3:4, with the final EPR intensity of three non-interacting Co(II)-binding sites. This EPR behaviour is consistent with a binding scheme in which one Co(II) ion occupies a metal-binding site within the three-metal cluster and the remaining two Co(II) ions occupy two distinctly separate sites in the four-metal cluster. With four or more Co(II) ions in the cluster matrix, magnetic coupling between adjacent, sulphur-bridged Co(II) ions was observed. In previous studies on mixed-metal clusters in MT formed with Co(II)/Cd(II), Zn(II)/Cd(II) and Cd(II)/Fe(II), changes in the respective cluster volumes were shown to be a significant factor dictating the widely differing metal distributions in these systems. Based on the results of the current study, it is suggested that both the sizes of the two metal ions and their relative affinities towards the cysteine-thiolate ligands are important in the formation of mixed-metal clusters in MT.