Alexandre Abhervé

A Family of Layered Chiral Porous Magnets Exhibiting Tunable Ordering Temperatures

A simple change of the substituents in the bridging ligand allows tuning of the ordering temperatures, Tc, in the new family of layered chiral magnets A[M(II)M(III)(X2An)3]·G (A = [(H3O)(phz)3](+) (phz = phenazine) or NBu4(+); X2An(2-) = C6O4X2(2-) = 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone derivative dianion, with M(III) = Cr, Fe; M(II) = Mn, Fe, Co, etc.; X = Cl, Br, I, H; G = water or acetone). Depending on the nature of X, an increase in Tc from ca. 5.5 to 6.3, 8.2, and 11.0 K (for X = Cl, Br, I, and H, respectively) is observed in the MnCr derivative. Furthermore, the presence of the chiral cation [(H3O)(phz)3](+), formed by the association of a hydronium ion with three phenazine molecules, leads to a chiral structure where the Δ-[(H3O)(phz)3](+) cations are always located below the Δ-[Cr(Cl2An)3](3-) centers, leading to a very unusual localization of both kinds of metals (Cr and Mn) and to an eclipsed disposition of the layers. This eclipsed disposition generates hexagonal channels with a void volume of ca. 20% where guest molecules (acetone and water) can be reversibly absorbed. Here we present the structural and magnetic characterization of this new family of anilato-based molecular magnets.

One-dimensional and two-dimensional anilate-based magnets with inserted spin-crossover complexes.

The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of a family of bimetallic anilate-based compounds with inserted spin-crossover cationic complexes are reported. The structures of 1-4 present a two-dimensional anionic network formed by Mn(II) and Cr(III) ions linked through anilate ligands with inserted [Fe(III)(sal2-trien)](+) (1), [Fe(III)(4-OH-sal2-trien)](+) (2), [Fe(III)(sal2-epe)](+) (3), or [Fe(III)(5-Cl-sal2-trien)](+) (4) complexes. The structure of 5 is formed by anionic [Mn(II)Cl2Cr(III)(Cl2An)3](3-) chains surrounded by [Fe(II)(tren(imid)3)](2+), Cl(-), and solvent molecules. The magnetic properties indicate that 1-4 undergo a long-range ferrimagnetic ordering at ca. 10 K. On the other hand, the inserted Fe(III) cations remain in the low-spin (in 4) or high-spin state (in 1, 2, and 3). In the case of 5, half of the inserted Fe(II) cations undergo a complete and gradual spin crossover from 280 to 90 K that coexists with a magnetic ordering below 2.5 K.

Nanosheets of Two-Dimensional Magnetic and Conducting Fe(II)/Fe(III) Mixed-Valence Metal–Organic Frameworks

We report the synthesis, magnetic properties, electrical conductivity, and delamination into thin nanosheets of two anilato-based Fe(II)/Fe(III) mixed-valence two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Compounds [(H3O)(H2O)(phenazine)3][FeIIFeIII(C6O4X2)3]·12H2O [X = Cl (1) and Br (2)] present a honeycomb layered structure with an eclipsed packing that generates hexagonal channels containing the water molecules. Both compounds show ferrimagnetic ordering at ca. 2 K coexisting with electrical conductivity (with room temperature conductivities of 0.03 and 0.003 S/cm). Changing the X group from Cl to Br leads to a decrease in the ordering temperature and room temperature conductivity that is correlated with the decrease of the electronegativity of X. Despite the ionic charge of the anilato-based layers, these MOFs can be easily delaminated in thin nanosheets with the thickness of a few monolayers.

Tuning the nuclearity of iron(III) polynuclear clusters by using tetradentate Schiff-base ligands

Three novel octanuclear, hexanuclear and tetranuclear complexes of high-spin Fe(III) ions were obtained by the reaction of the N,N′-bis-(1R-imidazol-4-ylmethylene)-ethane-1,2-diamine ligand (R = H, CH3) and its derivatives with Fe(ClO4)3·6H2O and KSCN. The tetradentate Schiff-base ligand acts as a bis(bidentate) chelating bridge between two adjacent high-spin Fe(III) centers. The presence of a methyl group in the imidazolyl substituent, the change of counterions or the replacement of imidazole by pyridine has a drastic effect on the nuclearity of the cluster. The magnetic properties of all compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions via μ-oxo or μ-hydroxo pathways in Fe(III) dimers.

Bimetallic MnIII–FeII hybrid complexes formed by a functionalized MnIII Anderson polyoxometalate coordinated to FeII: observation of a field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization in the MnIII centres and a photoinduced spin-crossover in the FeII centres

The synthesis and crystal structure of an Anderson POM functionalized with two 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-pyridine (1-bpp) ligands are reported (compound 1). High-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR) and magnetic measurements show that it presents a significant negative axial zero-field splitting and field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization due to the presence of isolated MnIII anisotropic magnetic ions. Complexation of 1 with FeII gives rise to a 2D cationic network formed by Anderson POMs coordinated to two FeII ions through the two tridentate 1-bpp ligands and to other two FeII ions through two oxo ligands in compound 2, and to an anionic polymeric network formed by Anderson POMs coordinated through the 1-bpp ligands to two FeII, which are coordinated to two 1-bpp ligands from two neighbouring POMs, in compound 3. The crystal structure of 2 has been solved. Magnetic properties show that the FeII atoms of 3 remain in the low-spin state, while those of 2 remain in the high-spin state due to coordination to oxygen atoms from a neighbouring POM and dimethylformamide and water solvent molecules. Irradiation of 3 at 10 K with green light induces a spin-crossover (LIESST effect) with a small but significant photoconversion (∼8%). Finally, AC susceptibility measurements of 2, 3 and (C16H36N)3[MnMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNH2}2] (4) confirm field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization of MnIII Anderson POMs.

Nonanuclear Spin-Crossover Complex Containing Iron(II) and Iron(III) Based on a 2,6-Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine Ligand Functionalized with a Carboxylate Group

The synthesis and magnetostructural characterization of [Fe(III)3(μ3-O)(H2O)3[Fe(II)(bppCOOH)(bppCOO)]6](ClO4)13·(CH3)2CO)6·(solvate) (2) are reported. This compound is obtained as a secondary product during synthesis of the mononuclear complex [Fe(II)(bppCOOH)2](ClO4)2 (1). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure of 2 shows that it contains the nonanuclear cluster of the formula [Fe(III)3(μ3-O)(H2O)3[Fe(II)(bppCOOH)(bppCOO)]6](13+), which is formed by a central Fe(III)3O core coordinated to six partially deprotonated [Fe(II)(bppCOOH)(bppCOO)](+) complexes. Raman spectroscopy studies on single crystals of 1 and 2 have been performed to elucidate the spin and oxidation states of iron in 2. These studies and magnetic characterization indicate that most of the iron(II) complexes of 2 remain in the low-spin (LS) state and present a gradual and incomplete spin crossover above 300 K. On the other hand, the Fe(III) trimer shows the expected antiferromagnetic behavior. From the structural point of view, 2 represents the first example in which bppCOO(-) acts as a bridging ligand, thus forming a polynuclear magnetic complex.

Conducting Anilate-Based Mixed-Valence Fe(II)Fe(III) Coordination Polymer: Small-Polaron Hopping Model for Oxalate-Type Fe(II)Fe(III) 2D Networks

The mixed-valence FeIIFeIII 2D coordination polymer formulated as [TAG][FeIIFeIII(ClCNAn)3]·(solvate) 1 (TAG = tris(amino)-guanidinium, ClCNAn2- = chlorocyanoanilate dianionic ligand) crystallized in the polar trigonal space group P3. In the solid-state structure, determined both at 150 and at 10 K, anionic 2D honeycomb layers [FeIIFeIII(ClCNAn)3]- establish in the ab plane, with an intralayer metal-metal distance of 7.860 Å, alternating with cationic layers of TAG. The similar Fe-O distances suggest electron delocalization and an average oxidation state of +2.5 for each Fe center. The cation imposes its C3 symmetry to the structure and engages in intermolecular N-H···Cl hydrogen bonding with the ligand. Magnetic susceptibility characterization indicates magnetic ordering below 4 K and the presence of a hysteresis loop at 2 K with a coercive field of 60 Oe. Mössbauer measurements are in agreement with the existence of Fe(+2.5) ions at RT and statistic charge localization at 10 K. The compound shows semiconducting behavior with the in-plane conductivity of 2 × 10-3 S/cm, 3 orders of magnitude higher than the perpendicular one. A small-polaron hopping model has been applied to a series of oxalate-type FeIIFeIII 2D coordination polymers, providing a clear explanation on the much higher conductivity of the anilate-based systems than the oxalate ones.

Iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes based on anionic phenanthroline-imidazolate ligands: reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations

A series of low-spin FeII and CoII complexes based on phenanthroline-imidazolate (PIMP) ligands are reported. The FeII complex (H9O4)[Fe(PIMP)3]·(C4H10O)2(H2O) (1a) shows reversible crystalline phase transformations to afford two new phases (H9O4)[Fe(PIMP)3]·(H2O) (1b) and (H9O4)[Fe(PIMP)3]·(C8H18O)(C4H10O)(H2O) (1c) by release of diethyl ether and absorption of diethyl/dibutyl ether, respectively. This reversible uptake/release of solvent molecules is a clear example of single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation involving a discrete metal complex. On the other hand, the corresponding CoII complex (H9O4)[Co(PIMP)3]·(C4H10O)2(H2O)2 (2) does not exhibit similar phase transformations. In the neutral complexes [Fe(H-TfPIMP)(TfPIMP)2]·(EtOH)4(H2O)7 (3) and [Co(H-TfPIMP)(TfPIMP)2]·(EtOH)2(H2O)2 (4), which crystallized in the polar space group Pna21 and in the centrosymmetric space group P21/n, respectively, one of the imidazole ligands was not deprotonated.