Certain 3d metal clusters can behave as single-molecule magnets (SMMs) if they possess a combination of a relatively large ground state spin (S) and Ising (easy-axis-type) magnetoanisotropy, i.e., negative zero-field splitting (D). In the last ten years, 3d-4f heterometallic complexes have been a rich source of SMMs due to the often large number of unpaired electrons and high anisotropy of lanthanide (Ln) ions, and their often ferromagnetic coupling with 3d transition metals. In the present study, we have explored and successfully achieved a triad of Mn/Ln cluster types from the use of the anion of 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (hmp-), a versatile chelating and bridging ligand in Mn cluster chemistry, and its two bulkier derivatives dimethyl-hmpH (dmhmpH) and diphenyl-hmpH (dphmpH). These three Mn/Ln families have been prepared under exactly the same conditions but differing in the size and electronic effects of the two substituents. This has allowed a systematic investigation of the extent to which targeted modification of chelates can affect the structural identities and magnetic properties of the obtained Mn/Ln products.

Structural and magnetic characterization of Mn/Ln (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) single-molecule magnets from the use of 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine and its bulkier derivatives

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.