Jan van Leusen

A comparative synthetic, magnetic and theoretical study of functional M4Cl4 cubane-type Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes

We describe the synthesis, structures, and magnetochemistry of new M4Cl4 cubane-type cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes with the formula [M(μ3-Cl)Cl(HL·S)]4 (1: M = Co; 2: M = Ni), where HL·S represents a pyridyl-alcohol-type ligand with a thioether functional group, introduced to allow subsequent binding to Au surfaces. Dc and ac magnetic susceptibility data of 1 and 2 were modeled with a full spin Hamiltonian implemented in the computational framework CONDON 2.0. Although both coordination clusters 1 and 2 are isostructural, with each of their transition metal ions in a pseudo-octahedral coordination environment of four Cl atoms and N,O-donor atoms of one chelating HL·S ligand, the substantially different ligand field effects of Co(II) and Ni(II) results in stark differences in their magnetism. In contrast to compound 1 which exhibits a dominant antiferromagnetic intramolecular coupling (J = -0.14 cm(-1)), 2 is characterised by a ferromagnetic coupling (J = +10.6 cm(-1)) and is considered to be a single-molecule magnet (SMM), a feature of special interest for future surface deposition studies. An analysis based on density functional theory (DFT) was performed to explore possible magnetostructural correlations in these compounds. Using a two-J model Hamiltonian, it revealed that compound 1 has four positive and two (small) negative J(Co···Co) isotropic interactions leading to a S(HS) = 6 ground state. Taking into account the magnetic anisotropy, one would recover a M(S) = 0 ground state since D > 0 from computations. In 2, all the J constants are positive and, in this framework, the zero-field splitting energy characterising the axial anisotropy was estimated to be negative (D = -0.44 cm(-1)). The computational results are consistent with compound 2 being an SMM.

Supramolecular Recognition Influences Magnetism in [X@HVIV8VV14O54]6− Self-Assemblies with Symmetry-Breaking Guest Anions

Mixed-valence polyoxovanadates(IV/V) have emerged as one of the most intricate class of supramolecular all-inorganic host species, able to encapsulate a wide variety of smaller guest templates during their self-assembly formation process. As showcased herein, the incorporation of guests, though governed solely by ultra-weak electrostatic and van der Waals interactions, can cause drastic effects on the electronic and magnetic characteristics of the shell complex of the polyoxovanadate. We address the question of methodology for the magnetochemical analysis of virtually isostructural {V(IV/V) 22 O54 }-type polyoxoanions of D2d symmetry enclosing diamagnetic VO2 F2 (-) (C2v ), SCN(-) (C∞v ), or ClO4 (-) (Td ) template anions. These induce different polarization effects related to differences in their geometric structures, symmetry, ion radii, and valence shells, eventually resulting in a supramolecular modulation of magnetic exchange between the V(3d) electrons that are partly delocalized over the {V22 O54 } shells. We also include the synthesis and characterization of the novel [V(V) O2 F2 @HV(IV) 8 V(V) 14 O54 ](6-) system that comprises the rarely encountered discrete difluorovanadate anion as a quasi-isolated guest species.

[{Ni4 (OH)3 AsO4 }4 (B-α-PW9 O34 )4 ](28-) : A New Polyoxometalate Structural Family with Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity.

A new structural polyoxometalate motif, [{Ni4 (OH)3 AsO4 }4 (B-α-PW9 O34 )4 ](28-) , which contains the highest nuclearity structurally characterized multi-nickel-containing polyanion to date, has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, temperature-dependent magnetism and several other techniques. The unique central {Ni16 (OH)12 O4 (AsO4 )4 } core shows dominant ferromagnetic exchange interactions, with maximum χm T of 69.21 cm(3)  K mol(-1) at 3.4 K. Significantly, this structurally unprecedented complex is an efficient, water-compatible, noble-metal-free catalyst for H2 production upon visible light irradiation (photosensitizer=[Ir(ppy)2 (dtbbpy)][PF6 ]; sacrificial electron donor=triethylamine or triethanolamine). The highest turnover number of approximately 580, corresponding to a best quantum yield of approximately 4.07 %, is achieved when using triethylamine as electron donor in the presence of water. The mechanism of this photodriven process has been probed by time-solved luminescence and by static emission quenching.

Cluster-based networks: 1D and 2D coordination polymers based on {MnFe2(μ3-O)}-type clusters.

A straightforward approach to heterometallic Mn-Fe cluster-based coordination polymers is presented. By employing a mixed-valent μ(3)-oxo trinuclear manganese(II/III) pivalate cluster, isolated as [Mn(II)Mn(III)(2)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(hmta)(3)]·(solvent) (hmta = hexamethylenetetramine; solvent = n-propanol (1), toluene (2)) in the reaction with a μ(3)-oxo trinuclear iron(III) pivalate cluster compound, [Fe(3)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(H(2)O)(3)]O(2)CCMe(3)·2Me(3)CCO(2)H, three new heterometallic {Mn(II)Fe(III)(2)} cluster-based coordination polymers were obtained: the one-dimensional polymer chain compounds {[MnFe(2)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(hmta)(2)]·0.5MeCN}(n) (3) and {[MnFe(2)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(hmta)(2)]·Me(3)CCO(2)H·(n-hexane)}(n) (4) and the two-dimensional layer compound {[MnFe(2)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(hmta)(1.5)]·(toluene)}(n) (5). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals a μ(3)-oxo trinuclear pivalate cluster building block as the main constituent in all polymer compounds. Different M:hmta ratios in 1-5 are related to the different structural functions of the N-containing ligand. In clusters 1 and 2, three hmta ligands are monodentate, whereas in chains 3 and 4 two hmta ligands act as bridging ligands and one is a monodentate ligand; in 5, all hmta molecules act as bidentate bridges. Magnetic studies indicate dominant antiferromagnetic interactions between the metal centers in both homometallic {Mn(3)}-type clusters 1 and 2 and heterometallic {MnFe(2)}-type coordination polymers 3-5. Modeling of the magnetic susceptibility data to a isotropic model Hamiltonian yields least-squares fits for the following parameters: J(1)(Mn(II)-Mn(III)) = -6.6 cm(-1) and J(2)(Mn(III)-Mn(III)) = -5.4 cm(-1) for 1; J(1) = -5.5 cm(-1) and J(2)(Mn(III)-Mn(III)) = -3.9 cm(-1) for 2; J(1)(Mn(II)-Fe(III)) = -17.1 cm(-1) and J(2)(Fe(III)-Fe(III)) = -43.7 cm(-1) for 3; J(1) = -23.8 cm(-1) and J(2) = -53.4 cm(-1) for 4; J(1) = -13.3 cm(-1) and J(2) = -35.4 cm(-1) for 5. Intercluster coupling plays a significant role in all compounds 1-5.

Homometallic DyIII Complexes of Varying Nuclearity from 2 to 21: Synthesis, Structure and Magnetism

The synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of four DyIII coordination compounds isolated as [Dy2 (LH2 )2 (μ2 -η1 :η1 -Piv)]Cl⋅2 MeOH⋅H2 O (1), [Dy4 (LH)2 (μ3 -OH)2 (Piv)4 (MeOH)2 ]⋅4 MeOH⋅2 H2 O (2), [Dy6 (LH2 )3 (tfa)3 (O3 PtBu)(Cl)3 ]Cl4 ⋅15.5 H2 O⋅4 MeOH⋅5 CHCl3 (3) and [Dy21 (L)7 (LH)7 (tfa)7 ]Cl7 ⋅15 H2 O⋅7 MeOH⋅12 CHCl3 (4) are reported (Piv=pivalate, tfa=1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetone, O3 PtBu=tert-butylphosphonate). Among these, 3 displays an equilateral triangle topology with a side length of 9.541 Å and a rare pentagonal-bipyramidal Dy3+ environment, whereas complex 4 exhibits a single-stranded nanowheel structure with the highest nuclearity known for a homometallic lanthanide cluster structure. A tentative model of the dc magnetic susceptibility and the low-temperature magnetization of compounds 1 and 2 indicates that the former exhibits weak ferromagnetic intramolecular exchange interaction between the Dy3+ ions, whereas in the latter both intramolecular ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic magnetic exchange interactions are present. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 exhibit frequency-dependent ac signals below 15 K at zero bias field, but without exhibiting any maximum above 2 K at frequencies up to 1400 Hz. The observed slow relaxation of the magnetization suggests that these compounds could exhibit single molecule magnet (SMM) behavior with either a thermal energy barrier for the reversal of the magnetization that is not high enough to block the magnetization above 2 K, or there exists quantum tunneling of the magnetization (QTM).

Ultralarge 3d/4f Coordination Wheels: From Carboxylate/Amino Alcohol-Supported {Fe4Ln2} to {Fe18Ln6} Rings

A family of wheel-shaped charge-neutral heterometallic {FeIII4LnIII2}- and {FeIII18MIII6}-type coordination clusters demonstrates the intricate interplay of solvent effects and structure-directing roles of semiflexible bridging ligands. The {Fe4Ln2}-type compounds [Fe4Ln2(O2CCMe3)6(N3)4(Htea)4]·2(EtOH), Ln = Dy (1a), Er (1b), Ho (1c); [Fe4Tb2(O2CCMe3)6(N3)4(Htea)4] (1d); [Fe4Ln2(O2CCMe3)6(N3)4(Htea)4]·2(CH2Cl2), Ln = Dy (2a), Er (2b); [Fe4Ln2(O2CCMe3)4(N3)6(Htea)4]·2(EtOH)·2(CH2Cl2), Ln = Dy (3a), Er (3b) and the {Fe18M6}-type compounds [Fe18M6(O2CCHMe2)12(Htea)18(tea)6(N3)6]·n(solvent), M = Dy (4, 4a), Gd (5), Tb (6), Ho (7), Sm (8), Eu (9), and Y (10) form in ca. 20–40% yields in direct reaction of trinuclear FeIII pivalate or isobutyrate clusters, lanthanide/yttrium nitrates, and bridging triethanolamine (H3tea) and azide ligands in different solvents: EtOH for the smaller {Fe4Ln2} wheels and MeOH/MeCN or MeOH/EtOH for the larger {Fe18M6} wheels. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that 1–3 consist of planar centrosymmetric hexanuclear clusters built from FeIII and LnIII ions linked by an array of bridging carboxylate, azide, and aminopolyalcoholato-based ligands into a cyclic structure with a cavity, and with distinct sets of crystal solvents (2 EtOH per formula unit in 1a–c, 2 CH2Cl2 in 2, and 2 EtOH and 2 CH2Cl2 in 3). In 4–10, the largest 3d/4f wheels currently known, nearly linear Fe3 fragments are joined via mononuclear Ln/Y units by a set of isobutyrates and amino alcohol ligands into virtually planar rings. The magnetic properties of 1–10 reveal slow magnetization relaxation for {Fe4Tb2} (1d) and slow relaxation for {Fe4Ho2} (1c), {Fe18Dy6} (4), and {Fe18Tb6} (6).

Covalent Co–O–V and Sb–N Bonds Enable Polyoxovanadate Charge Control

The formation of [{CoII(teta)2}{CoII2(tren)(teta)2}VIV15SbIII6O42(H2O)]·ca.9H2O [teta = triethylenetetraamine; tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine] illustrates a strategy toward reducing the molecular charge of polyoxovanadates, a key challenge in their use as components in single-molecule electronics. Here, a V–O–Co bond to a binuclear Co2+-centered complex and a Sb–N bond to the terminal N atom of a teta ligand of a mononuclear Co2+ complex allow for full charge compensation of the archetypal molecular magnet [V15Sb6O42(H2O)]6–. Density functional theory based electron localization function analysis demonstrates that the Sb–N bond has an electron density similar to that of a Sb–O bond. Magnetic exchange coupling between the VIV and CoII spin centers mediated via the Sb–N bridge is comparably weakly antiferromagnetic.

A thioether-decorated {Mn11Tb4} coordination cluster with slow magnetic relaxation

The oxidation reaction of manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate with terbium(III) nitrate hexahydrate in acetonitrile in the presence of 4-(methylthio)benzoic acid (Hbza·SMe) afforded a polynuclear [MnIII11TbIII4O9(OH)5(bza·SMe)18(NO3)2(H2O)6(OMe)2] complex (1) with a {Mn5Tb2O6}-bridged double-{TbMn3O4}-cubane structure. This antiferromagnetically coupled, neutral molecule is decorated in the periphery with structurally exposed thioether groups which can be used as anchors to metallic surfaces. Compound 1 is potentially a single-molecule magnet (SMM), exhibiting slow relaxation of the magnetisation up to 3 K. While 1 is not thermally stable, the coordination cluster remains stable in various Lewis base-type organic solvents like THF and acetone.

Thioether-terminated nickel(II) coordination clusters with {Ni6} horseshoe- and {Ni8} rollercoaster-shaped cores

We report two polynuclear nickel(II) compounds whose supramolecular structures are controlled by small inorganic templating anions and π-conjugated Schiff-base ligands (L·SMe3− and HL·SMe2−) with peripheral, structurally exposed methylthioether groups. The central component of the compound [Ni6(L·SMe)3(CO3)(MeOH)6(THF)2]Cl·2MeOH (1, monoclinic space group P2/c) displays a horseshoe-shaped {Ni6} core templated by μ6-CO32− moiety due to the fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide. According to thermogravimetric analysis, compound 1 retains the structural integrity of its carbonate-bonded metal core [Ni6(L·SMe)3(CO3)]+ up to ca. 390 °C. In the crystal lattice, compound 1 features an one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded chain structure [{CO3 ⊂ Ni6}⋯Cl⋯{CO3 ⊂ Ni6}]∞. The structure of the compound [Ni8(HL·SMe)2(L·SMe)2(OH)4(MeCN)4(H2O)4](NO3)2·11MeCN·2PhCN (2, triclinic space group P) consists of a dicationic crown-like {Ni8} metallamacrocycle hosting two NO3− anions in the upper and lower cavities. The {Ni6} complex is characterised by antiferromagnetic exchange interactions, whereas {Ni8} reveals predominantly ferromagnetic exchange coupling between the spin-1 Ni(II) centres. The presence of terminal thioether anchoring groups at the periphery of complex 1, coupled with high thermal stability and solubility in several common organic solvents, renders this compound an interesting candidate for molecular surface-deposition from solution using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry approach and, possibly, for supported-transition metal complex heterogeneous catalysis.

Supramolecular 3d–4f single-molecule magnet architectures

The nanosized self-assemblies {[{LnIII}{H2O⊂CrLn}]2(H2O)} (Ln = Dy, 1 and Tb, 2) based on new 3d-4f mixed-metal coordination topologies are formed via extensive intramolecular hydrogen bonding that is directed by enclosed water molecules. Compounds 1 and 2 show single-molecule magnet characteristics manifested by hysteresis loops up to 1.6 K (Ueff = 8.3 cm-1) and 1 K (Ueff = 3.4 cm-1), respectively.