Rare single-molecule magnets with six-coordinate Ln(III) ions exhibiting a trigonal antiprism configuration.

Abstract

Four Ni-Ln-Ni heterometallic complexes, [Ni2LnL2]NO3·3H2O (H3L = tri(((3-methoxysalicylidene)amino)ethyl)amine, Ln = Gd for , Tb for and Dy for , respectively) and [Ni2DyL2]ClO4·MTBE·0.65H2O (, MTBE = methyl tert-butyl ether) have been synthesized by diffusion of methyl tert-butyl ether vapor into the reaction solution. The X-ray analyses demonstrated that the Gd(III) ion in exhibits rare seven-coordination, the Tb(III) and Dy(III) ions in display unusual six-coordination, and two Ni(II) ions and one Ln(III) ion are bridged by six phenolato atoms to form linear Ni-Ln-Ni heterotrinuclear complexes for . All complexes exhibit weak ferromagnetic interactions between Ni(II) and Ln(III) ions. Alternating current susceptibility measurements demonstrated that compounds and behave as single-molecule magnets with the effective energy barriers of 14.17 and 11.13 K under zero direct current field. They are rare single-molecule magnets containing six-coordinate Dy(III) ions.