Controlled Dimerization of Mn12 Single-Molecule Magnets.

Controlled dimerization of Mn12 single-molecule magnets (SMMs) was achieved via a synthetic route involving a competition between bridging and terminal ligands, namely, diols and alcohols. The reaction using a 1:1 ratio of the competing ligands resulted in the isolation of a new family of covalently linked dimers of Mn12 SMMs. This is the first step toward the controlled growth of SMM oligomeric arrays.

Introducing Dimensionality to the Archetypical Mn12 Single-Molecule Magnet: a Family of [Mn12]n Chains.

The [Mn12O12(O2CR)16(L4)] family (R = various; L = terminal ligand) of clusters holds a special place in molecular magnetism; they are the most well-studied single-molecule magnets (SMMs). Targeted linkage of these SMMs has now been achieved for the first time. The resulting chain structures have been confirmed crystallographically, and the magnetic properties, up to 1.14 GPa, and high-field electron paramagnetic resonance spectra have been collected and analyzed.