Field-induced Single-ion Magnet Research Articles

Metalo Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks Constructed by Coordinated Chains for Magnetic and Proton-Conductive Bifunctionality.

Metalo hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (MHOFs) have received growing interest in designing crystalline functional materials. However, reports on bifunctional MHOFs showing magnetic and proton-conductive properties are extremely limited and their design is challenging. Herein, we investigated the magnetic and proton-conductive properties of two sulfonated CoHOF and MnHOF, {M(H2O)2(abs)2}n (M = Co2+ and Mn2+, Habs = 4-aminoazobenzene-4'-sulfonic anion), constructed by coordination chains. The supramolecular frameworks sustained by H bonds between -SO3- and coordinated water show directional ladder-type H bonds with hydrophilic nanochannels, leading to high proton conduction with exceptionally high conductivity around 10-2 S cm-1 at 100 °C under 97% relative humidity. In particular, the maximum σ value of CoHOF, 2.11 × 10-2 S cm-1, recorded the highest value among the reported proton-conducting materials showing slow magnetic relaxation. Meanwhile, the molecular structure of organosulfonate enables the magnetic isolation of high-spin Co2+ and Mn2+ centers in the frameworks. Magnetic measurements indicated that the MHOFs show field-induced single-ion magnet (SIM) properties, making these compounds rare magnetic-proton-conductive MHOFs. The work provides not only two unique MHOFs with SIM behavior and high proton conduction performance but also avenues for designing stable bifunctional MHOFs via a coordination chain approach.

Levamisole Based Co(II) Single-Ion Magnet.

A new Co(II) complex, [Co(NCS)2(L)2] (1) has been synthesized based on levamisole (L) as a new ligand. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses confirm that the Co(II) ion is having a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry in the complex. Notably strong intramolecular S⋅⋅⋅S and S⋅⋅⋅N interactions has been confirmed by employing Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM). These intramolecular interactions occur among the sulfur and nitrogen atoms of the levamisole ligands and also the nitrogen atoms of the thiocyanate. Direct current (dc) magnetic analyses reveal presence of zero field splitting (ZFS) and large magnetic anisotropy on Co(II). Detailed ab initio ligand field theory calculations quantitatively predicted the magnitude of ZFS. Prominent field-induced single-ion magnet (SIM) behavior was observed for 1 from dynamic magnetization measurements. Slow magnetic relaxation follows an Orbach mechanism with the effective energy barrier Ueff=29.6 (7) K and relaxation time τo=1.4 (4)×10-9 s.

Crystal structure and cryomagnetic study of a mononuclear erbium(III) oxamate inclusion complex.

The synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of an oxamate-containing erbium(III) complex, namely, tetrabutylammonium aqua[N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)oxamato]erbium(III)-dimethyl sulfoxide-water (1/3/1.5), (C16H36N)[Er(C11H12NO3)4(H2O)]·3C2H6OS·1.5H2O or n-Bu4N[Er(Htmpa)4(H2O)]·3DMSO·1.5H2O (1), are reported. The crystal structure of 1 reveals the occurrence of an erbium(III) ion, which is surrounded by four N-phenyl-substituted oxamate ligands and one water molecule in a nine-coordinated environment, together with one tetrabutylammonium cation acting as a counter-ion, and one water and three dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) molecules of crystallization. Variable-temperature static (dc) and dynamic (ac) magnetic measurements were carried out for this mononuclear complex, revealing that it behaves as a field-induced single-ion magnet (SIM) below 5.0 K.

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of two 1D coordination polymers containing Co2+ and Cu2+ ions and 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxylphenyl)benzene

Two 1D coordination polymers, {[Co(H3BTB)2(phen)](NO3)2}n (1) and {[Cu(HBTB)2(phen)] DMF}n (2), were synthesized through a slow diffusion reaction between the metal ions Co2+ or Cu2+, 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxylphenyl)benzene (H3BTB) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that both metal centers are involved in a distorted octahedral environment. As expected for a Cu2+ ion with a d9 configuration, a pronounced Jahn-Teller distortion is observed. FTIR, powder XRD, and thermogravimetric analysis were employed for the chemical characterization of the two complexes. CASSCF-NEVPT2 was used to calculate the axial magnetic anisotropy (D) for complex 1, and the results were almost perfectly consistent with the experimental measurements. The AC magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed field-induced single-ion magnet (SIM) behavior at low temperatures for 1. EPR studies of complex 2 indicated that the Cu2+ ions are essentially isolated.

Slow relaxation of magnetization in the Co(II)‐phosphotungstate Keggin polyoxometalate

AbstractWe are reporting the single crystal structure of the tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salt of the old Co(II) Keggin phosphotungstate anion (Co(II)POM) and a study of the magnetic behaviour of this well‐known POM. This Co(II)POM crystallizes in a cubic cell and this high symmetry obscure a precise characterization of Co(II) coordination sphere metrics due to positional disordered. We employed DFT and SA‐SOC‐CASSCF as auxiliary tools to complement DC and AC magnetic data collected. The studied complex behaves as a field‐induced single ion magnet (SIM) showing slow relaxing magnetization below 5 K under small DC applied magnetic fields. Raman relaxation mechanisms dominates with different relaxation times observed when switching from the TBA salt to the K salt of the Co(II)POM.

Harnessing ligand design to develop primary and self-calibrated luminescent thermometers with field-induced single ion magnet behaviour in Dy3+ complexes

Magneto-luminescent studies on Dy+3 complexes of N6 macrocycles lead to a unique [Dy(LN6prop)(OAc)2](NO3)·CHCl3 luminescent primary thermometer based on 2 thermally coupled levels, which in addition shows field-induced single ion magnet behaviour.

Field-Induced Single-Ion Magnet Behavior in Nickel(II) Complexes with Functionalized 2,2':6'-2″-Terpyridine Derivatives: Preparation and Magneto-Structural Study.

Two mononuclear nickel(II) complexes of the formula [Ni(terpyCOOH)2](ClO4)2∙4H2O (1) and [Ni(terpyepy)2](ClO4)2 MeOH (2) [terpyCOOH = 4'-carboxyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine and terpyepy = 4'-[(2-pyridin-4-yl)ethynyl]-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine] have been prepared and their structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 are mononuclear compounds, where the nickel(II) ions are six-coordinate by the six nitrogen atoms from two tridentate terpy moieties. The mean values of the equatorial Ni-N bond distances [2.11(1) and 2.12(1) Å for Ni(1) at 1 and 2, respectively, are somewhat longer than the axial ones [2.008(6) and 2.003(6) Å (1)/2.000(1) and 1.999(1) Å (2)]. The values of the shortest intermolecular nickel-nickel separation are 9.422(1) (1) and 8.901(1) Å (2). Variable-temperature (1.9-200 K) direct current (dc) magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1 and 2 reveal a Curie law behavior in the high-temperature range, which corresponds to magnetically isolated spin triplets, the downturn of the χMT product at lower temperatures being due to zero-field splitting effects (D). Values of D equal to -6.0 (1) and -4.7 cm-1 (2) were obtained through the joint analysis of the magnetic susceptibility data and the field dependence of the magnetization. These results from magnetometry were supported by theoretical calculations. Alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 2.0-5.5 K show the occurrence of incipient out-phase signals under applied dc fields, a phenomenon that is characteristic of field-induced Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) behavior, which herein concerns the 2 mononuclear nickel(II) complexes. This slow relaxation of the magnetization in 1 and 2 has its origin in the axial compression of the octahedral surrounding at their nickel(II) ions that leads to negative values of D. A combination of an Orbach and a direct mechanism accounts for the field-dependent relation phenomena in 1 and 2.

Slow Magnetic Relaxation and Luminescence Properties in Tetra β-Diketonate Lanthanide(III) Complexes

The reaction of [Ln(btfa)3(H2O)2] (btfa- = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedionate) with additional 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione (Hbtfa) and acridine (Acr) in ethanol allows the isolation of the mononuclear compounds HAcr[Nd(btfa)4]·EtOH, (1) and HAcr[Ln(btfa)4], Ln = Dy (2) and Yb (3); HAcr+ = acridinium cation. Magnetic measurements indicate that complexes 1–3 show field-induced single-ion magnet behavior with anisotropy energy barriers and preexponential factors of Ueff = 20.7 cm−1, τ0 = 24.5 × 10−8 s; Ueff = 40.5 cm−1, τ0 = 8.6 × 10−10 s and Ueff = 22.7 cm−1, τ0 = 8.4 × 10−8 s, for 1–3 respectively. The solid-state luminescence emission in the NIR region shows efficient energy transfer from the 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedionate ligands to the central Ln3+ ion in the case of compounds 1 and 3.

A spherical capped square antiprismatic DyIII complex encapsulated three acylhydrazone Schiff base ligands behaving field-induced single-ion magnet behaviour

One mononuclear DyIII based complex, [Dy(L)3]·0·25H2O (1) (HL= N'-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)pyridine-2-carbohydrazonamide) has been successfully synthesized and systematically characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with space group P/21. The nine-coordinated DyIII ion in 1 adopts distorted spherical capped square antiprism configuration (C4v-CSAPR) with three tridentate coordination pockets. In addition, the alternating-current (ac) magnetic susceptibility investigations show that 1 exhibits slow magnetic relaxation behavior under an applied 1000 Oe field with effective energy barrier (Ueff) of 83.10 K. To understand the magnetic behaviour in depth, the magnetic axes and magneto-structural correlations are analyzed to reveal that the coordination of three ligands effectively enhances the axiality of the nine-coordinated mononuclear DyIII complexes, thereby exhibiting the slow magnetic relaxation behaviour. This work provides a strategy to effectively improve the performance of single-ion magnets (SIMs) by introducing more ligands around the DyIII ion, and regularizing the coordination configuration of the DyIII ion towards an axial-type structure.

A DyIII Complex of a Pentadentate Schiff Base with Field-Induced Single-Ion Magnet Behaviour

The influence of the solvent in the reaction of dysprosium(III) chloride hydrate with the N3O2 ligand H2L (2,6-bis(2-hydroxyphenyliminomethyl)pyridine) was studied To this end, the new mononuclear chloride complex [Dy(L)Cl(H2O)2] (1) was isolated in absolute ethanol as solvent, without any evidence of the hydrolysis of the ligand. This clearly contrasts with previous results, where a similar reaction in methanol proceeds with the partial hydrolysis of the Schiff base, and the formation of a new hemiacetal donor to yield [Dy(HL’)2)][Dy(L)(Cl2)] (H2L’ = (6-(2-hydroxyphenyliminomethyl)-2-methoxyhydroxymethyl)pyridine). The single crystal X-ray structure of the chloride complex 1 shows that the DyIII ion is octacoordinated in a highly distorted N3O4Cl environment between triangular dodecahedral and biaugmented trigonal prisms. The full magnetic characterisation of 1 shows that it presents field-induced single ion magnet behaviour, with a thermal energy barrier Ueff of 113.5 K, which is the highest among dysprosium complexes derived from H2L.

Magnetic anisotropy and structural flexibility in the field-induced single ion magnets [Co{(OPPh2)(EPPh2)N}2], E = S, Se, explored by experimental and computational methods.

During the last few years, a large number of mononuclear Co(II) complexes of various coordination geometries have been explored as potential single ion magnets (SIMs). In the work presented herein, the Co(II) S = 3/2 tetrahedral [Co{(OPPh2)(EPPh2)N}2], E = S, Se, complexes (abbreviated as CoO2E2), bearing chalcogenated mixed donor-atom imidodiphosphinato ligands, were studied by both experimental and computational techniques. Specifically, direct current (DC) magnetometry provided estimations of their zero-field splitting (zfs) axial (D) and rhombic (E) parameter values, which were more accurately determined by a combination of far-infrared magnetic spectroscopy and high-frequency and -field EPR spectroscopy studies. The latter combination of techniques was also implemented for the S = 3/2 tetrahedral [Co{(EPiPr2)2N}2], E = S, Se, complexes, confirming the previously determined magnitude of their zfs parameters. For both pairs of complexes (E = S, Se), it is concluded that the identity of the E donor atom does not significantly affect their zfs parameters. High-resolution multifrequency EPR studies of CoO2E2 provided evidence of multiple conformations, which are more clearly observed for CoO2Se2, in agreement with the structural disorder previously established for this complex by X-ray crystallography. The CoO2E2 complexes were shown to be field-induced SIMs, i.e., they exhibit slow relaxation of magnetization in the presence of an external DC magnetic field. Advanced quantum-chemical calculations on CoO2E2 provided additional insight into their electronic and structural properties.

Field-induced SIM behaviour in early lanthanide(III) organophosphates containing 18-crown-6.

Single-ion magnets (SIMs) have attracted wide attention in recent years. Despite tremendous progress in late lanthanide SIMs, reports on early lanthanides exhibiting SIM characteristics are scarce. A series of five novel 18-crown-6 encapsulated mononuclear early lanthanide(III) organophosphates, [{(18-crown-6)Ln(dippH)3}{(18-crown-6)Ln(dippH)2(dippH2)}]·[I3] [Ln = Ce (1), Pr (2), Nd (3)] and [{Ln(18-crown-6)(dippH)2(H2O)}·{I3}] [Ln = Sm (4) and Eu (5)], have been synthesised in the present study. 18-crown-6 coordinates to Ln(III) ions in an equatorial position while the axial positions are occupied by either three phosphate moieties as in 1-3 or two phosphate moieties and one water molecule as in 4 and 5, resulting in a muffin-shaped coordination geometry around the Ln(III) centres. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that Ce and Nd complexes are field-induced single-ion magnets with significant barrier heights. Furthermore, the ab initio CASSCF/RASSI-SO/SINGLE_ANISO calculations on complexes 1 and 3 reveal significant QTM in the ground state rationalising the field-induced single-ion magnetism behaviour of these complexes.

Tetracoordinate Co(II) complexes with semi-coordination as stable single-ion magnets for deposition on graphene.

We present a theoretical and experimental study of two tetracoordinate Co(II)-based complexes with semi-coordination interactions, i.e., non-covalent interactions involving the central atom. We argue that such interactions enhance the thermal and structural stability of the compounds, making them appropriate for deposition on substrates, as demonstrated by their successful deposition on graphene. DC magnetometry and high-frequency electron spin resonance (HF-ESR) experiments revealed an axial magnetic anisotropy and weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling in both compounds, supported by theoretical predictions from complete active space self-consistent field calculations complemented by N-electron valence state second-order perturbation theory (CASSCF-NEVPT2), and broken-symmetry density functional theory (BS-DFT). AC magnetometry demonstrated that the compounds are field-induced single-ion magnets (SIMs) at applied static magnetic fields, with slow relaxation of magnetization governed by a combination of quantum tunneling, Orbach, and direct relaxation mechanisms. The structural stability under ambient conditions and after deposition was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. Theoretical modeling by DFT of different configurations of these systems on graphene revealed n-type doping of graphene originating from electron transfer from the deposited molecules, confirmed by electrical transport measurements and Raman spectroscopy.

Field-induced single-ion magnet behavior in a cobalt(II) coordination polymer constructed by a mixed bipyridyl-tetracarboxylate strategy

A porous two-dimensional (2D) cobalt(II) metal–organic framework (MOF), {[Co(H2tbca)(bpb)(H2O)2]·bpb}n (H4tbca = 1,2,4,5-Benzenetetracarboxylic acid; bpb = 1,4-bis(pyrid-4-yl)benzene), was synthesized and structurally characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the monometallic Co2+ ion acted as coordination nodes in a distorted octahedral geometry and bridged by H2tbca2− and bpb ligands, giving rise to a porous 2D sql network. Thermal analysis reveals high thermal stability of the framework material even losing its guest molecules. Magnetic studies showed that the six-coordinated Co2+ ions exhibit large easy-plane magnetic anisotropy with the zero-field splitting parameter D = 62.1 cm−1. For the presence of significant single-ion magnetic anisotropy, single-ion magnet (SIM) behavior through combined Direct and Raman mechanisms was evidenced with the effective energy Ueff = 31.8 cm−1. The forgoing result provides a new 2D cobalt(II) SIM-MOF and a potential bipyridyl-tetracarboxylate approach for the construction of SIM frameworks.

Ferromagnetic Coupling and Single-Ion Magnet Phenomenon in Mononuclear Ruthenium(III) Complexes Based on Guanine Nucleobase

Two mononuclear RuIII complexes of formula trans-[RuCl4(Hgua)(dmso)]·2H2O (1) and trans-[RuCl4(Hgua)(gua)]·3H2O (2) [Hgua = protonated guanine (gua), dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide] have been synthesized and characterized magnetostructurally. 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic system with space groups P21/n and Pc, respectively. Each RuIII ion in 1 and 2 is bonded to four chloride ions and one (1) or two (2) nitrogen atoms from guanine molecules and one sulfur atom (1) of a dmso solvent molecule, generating axially compressed octahedral geometries in both cases. In their crystal packing, the RuIII complexes are connected through an extended network of N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds and π⋯Cl intermolecular interactions, forming novel supramolecular structures of this paramagnetic 4d ion. Variable-temperature dc magnetic susceptibility data were obtained from polycrystalline samples of 1 and 2 and their plots show a different magnetic behavior. While 1 is a ferromagnetic compound at low temperature, 2 exhibits a behavior of magnetically isolated mononuclear RuIII complexes with S = 1/2. The study on ac magnetic susceptibility data reveal slow relaxation of the magnetization, when external dc fields are applied, only for 2. These results highlight the presence of field-induced single-ion magnet (SIM) behavior for this mononuclear guanine-based RuIII complex.

Insights into the Spin Dynamics of Mononuclear Cerium(III) Single-Molecule Magnets.

Four novel CeIII mononuclear complexes of formulas [Ce(ntfa)3(MeOH)2] (1), [Ce(ntfa)3(5,5′-Me2bipy)] (2), [Ce(ntfa)3(terpy)] (3), and [Ce(ntfa)3(bipy)2] (4), where ntfa = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)butane-1,3-dionato, 5,5′-Me2bipy = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl, terpy = 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine, and bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine, have been synthesized and structurally characterized with CeIII displaying coordination numbers of 8, 8, 9, and 10, respectively. Magnetic measurements indicate that all the complexes show a field-induced single-ion magnet behavior under a small applied dc field. The magnetic analysis shows the relevance of the different spin relaxation mechanisms in the magnetic relaxation of the CeIII compounds, with special emphasis on the local-mode process. Multiconfigurational calculations were also performed to get more information on the axiality of the compounds.

Slow-Relaxation Behavior of a Mononuclear Co(II) Complex Featuring Long Axial Co-O Bond.

Co(II) mononuclear complex with different coordination geometry would display various of field-induced single-ion magnet (SIM) behaviors. Here, we identify a field-induced single-ion magnet in a mononuclear complex Co(H2DPA)2·H2O (H2DPA = 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid) by the hydrothermal method. The long axial Co-O coordination bond (Co1‧‧‧O3) can be formed by Co1 and O3. Therefore, Co(II) ion is six-coordinated in a distorted elongated octahedron. AC magnetization susceptibilities show that the effective energy barrier is up to 43.28 K. This is much larger than most mononuclear Co(II). The distorted elongated octahedron caused by the axial Co-O coordination bond is responsible for the high effective energy barrier. The distribution of electron density in Co1 and O3 atoms in the long axial bond would influence the magnetic relaxation process in turn. Our work deepens the relationship between the effective energy barrier and the weak change of ligand field by long axial bonds, which would facilitate constructing SIM with high energy temperature.

The Complete Series of Lanthanoid-Chloranilato Lattices with Dimethylsulfoxide: Role of the Lanthanoid Size on the Coordination Number and Crystal Structure

We report the synthesis, structural and magnetic characterization of the complete series of lanthanoid-based chloranilato 2D lattices with dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) formulated as: [Ln2(C6O4Cl2)3(dmso)6] with Ln = La(1), Ce(2), Pr(3), Nd(4), Sm(5), Eu(6), Gd(7) and Tb(8) or [Ln2(C6O4Cl2)3(dmso)4]·2dmso·2H2O with Ln = Dy(9), Ho(10), Er(11), Tm(12) and Yb(13); C6O4Cl22− = dianion of 3,6-dichloro-2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone = chloranilato. Single crystal X-ray analysis shows that the largest Ln(III) ions (La–Tb, 1–8) crystallise in the monoclinic P21/n space group (phase I), whereas the smallest ones (Dy–Yb, 9–13) crystallise in the triclinic P-1 space group (phase II). Both phases show a (6,3)-2D network with the typical hexagonal honeycomb lattice, although phase I presents important distortions, resulting in rectangular cavities with a brick-wall orientation. The largest ions (phase I) show a coordination number of nine with a capped square antiprismatic geometry in contrast to the smallest ions (phase II) that present a coordination number of eight with a triangular dodecahedral geometry. Magnetic measurements show that all the Ln(III) ions are magnetically well isolated, leading to the presence of a field induced single-ion magnet behaviour in the Er derivative, with an energy barrier of 23(2) K for DC fields of 20, 50 and 100 mT.

Trigonally Distorted Hexacoordinate Co(II) Single-Ion Magnets.

By simple reactions involving various cobalt(II) carboxylates (acetate and in situ prepared pivalate and 4-hydroxybenzoate salts) and neocuproine (neo), we were able to prepare three different carboxylate complexes with the general formula [Co(neo)(RCOO)2] (R = –CH3 for 1, (CH3)3C– for 2, and 4OH-C4H6– for 3). The [Co(neo)(RCOO)2] molecules in the crystal structures of 1–3 adopt a rather distorted coordination environment, with the largest trigonal distortion observed for 1, whereas 2 and 3 are similarly distorted from ideal octahedral geometry. The combined theoretical and experimental investigations of magnetic properties revealed that the spin Hamiltonian formalism was not a valid approach and the L-S Hamiltonian had to be used to reveal very large magnetic anisotropies for 1–3. The measurements of AC susceptibility showed that all three compounds exhibited slow-relaxation of magnetization in a weak external static magnetic field, and thus can be classified as field-induced single-ion magnets. It is noteworthy that 1 also exhibits a weak AC signal in a zero-external magnetic field.

Field-induced single-ion magnet behavior in a hydrogen-bonded supramolecular cobalt(II) complex

Hydrogen-bonded supramolecular frameworks remain highly interesting for the development of novel porous materials. Herein a hydrogen-bonded supramolecular framework of a cobalt(II) complex, [Co(cpt)2(H2O)2] (Hcpt = 4-(p-carboxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole), was synthesized and structurally characterized. A single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) study indicates that the monometallic Co2+ ion is located in a distorted octahedral geometry and the complex forms a two-dimensional supramolecular network stabilised by significant intermolecular N···H interactions. Variable-temperature PXRD and TGA analysis experiments revealed considerable thermal stability of the supramolecular framework of the CoII complex. Magnetic studies showed that the distorted octahedral Co2+ ion exhibits considerable easy-plane magnetic anisotropy with D = 22.3 cm−1, while field-induced single-ion magnet (SIM) behavior was evidenced at low temperature. The forgoing results further highlight that the hydrogen-bonded supramolecular framework could be used as a great platform for the development of molecular nanomagnets.