ABSTRACT
Controlling the coordination sphere of lanthanoid complexes is a challenging critical step toward controlling their relaxation properties. Here we present the synthesis of hexacoordinated dysprosium single-molecule magnets, where tripodal ligands achieve a near-perfect octahedral coordination. We perform a complete experimental and theoretical investigation of their magnetic properties, including a full single-crystal magnetic anisotropy analysis. The combination of electrostatic and crystal-field computational tools (SIMPRE and CONDON codes) allows us to explain the static behavior of these systems in detail.
ABSTRACT
Isostructural tetranuclear clusters [Ln4(salen)6]·xH2O [Ln = Dy, 1·5.5H2O; Ho, 2·4.6H2O; Eu, 3·5.2H2O; salen = N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato)dianion] were prepared by self-assembling the corresponding lanthanide ions and a quadridentate Schiff base. Interestingly, the Ln ions are surrounded by the N- and O-donors of the Schiff bases, leading to seven- and eight-coordinate environments. The heptacoordinated Ln centers adopt a distorted capped trigonal prism, while the octacoordinated Ln atoms are in a dodecahedral disposition. The Dy complex exhibits slow magnetic relaxation, characteristic of a single-molecule magnet. Two relaxation modes in the Dy system are evident when H(dc) = 1.4 kG is applied, which is attributable to the existence of the dissimilar coordination geometries around Dy. In comparison, the Ho and Eu analogues were magnetically inspected, displaying no typical slow magnetic relaxation. These findings elucidate that the metal component in the system plays a central role in the occurrence of the magnetization relaxation process. The pronounced long-range order may contribute to intrachain exchange couplings and through-space dipolar interactions between adjacent chains.
Subject(s)
Coordination Complexes/chemical synthesis , Lanthanoid Series Elements/chemistry , Magnetics , Coordination Complexes/chemistry , Crystallography, X-Ray , Dysprosium/chemistry , Ethylenediamines/chemistry , Europium/chemistry , Holmium/chemistry , Molecular Conformation , Schiff Bases/chemistry , TemperatureABSTRACT
A tetranuclear Er(III) compound chelated with N(2)O(2) donors of a tetradentate Schiff base was produced from the self-assembly of the corresponding chemical species. This intriguing cluster shows field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization.
