Linear chain and mononuclear tri-spin compounds based on the lanthanide-nitronyl nitroxide radicals: structural design and magnetic properties

Abstract

Four Ln(III) complexes based on two nitronyl nitroxide radicals with different steric hindrance have been synthesized, characterized structurally and magnetically: [Ln(hfac)3(NITPhOEt)]n (Ce (1), Pr (2); hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; and NITPhOEt = 4′-ethoxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide); [Ln(hfac)3(NITPhOCH2Ph)2] (Ce (3), Pr (4); NITPhOCH2Ph = 4′-benzyloxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide). The X-ray crystal structure analyses show that small steric hindrance of the radical makes complexes 1 and 2 show similar linear chain structures composed of Ln(hfac)3 units bridged by NITPhOEt radicals through their N–O groups. While the larger steric hindrance of the radical induces complexes 3 and 4 to be mononuclear tri-spin compounds, in which central Ln(III) ions are coordinated by three hfac and two NITPhOCH2Ph radicals. The variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies reveal that there are antiferromagnetic interactions between the paramagenetic ions (Ln(III) and radical) in all four complexes.