Joscha Nehrkorn

Modelling the Magnetic Behaviour of Square-Pyramidal CoII5 Aggregates: Tuning SMM Behaviour through Variations in the Ligand Shell

Three new mu4-bridged Co(II)5 clusters with similar core motifs have been synthesised with the use of N-tert-butyldiethanolamine (tbdeaH2) and pivalic acid (piv): [Co(II)5(mu4-N3)(tbdea)2(mu-piv)4(piv)(CH3CN)2].CH3CN (1), [Co(II)5(mu4-Cl)(Cl)(tbdea)2(mu-piv)4(pivH)2] (2) and [Co(II)5(mu4-N3)(Cl)(tbdea)2(mu-piv)4(pivH)2] (3). Magnetic measurements were performed for all three compounds. It was found that while the chloride-bridged cluster 2 does not show an out-of-phase signal, which excludes single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour, the azide-bridged compounds 1 and 3 show out-of-phase signals as well as frequency dependence of the ac susceptibility, as expected for SMMs. We confirmed that 1 is a SMM with zero-field quantum tunnelling of the magnetisation at 1.8 K. Compound 3 is likely a SMM with a blocking temperature well below 1.8 K. We established a physical model to fit the chiT versus T and M versus B curves of the three compounds to reproduce the observed SMM trend. The analysis showed that small changes in the ligand shell modify not only the magnitude of exchange constants, but also affect the J and g matrices in a non-trivial way.

Synthesis, characterization, and single-molecule metamagnetism of new Co(II) polynuclear complexes of pyridine-2-ylmethanol.

The reaction between pyridine-2-ylmethanol (HL), anhydrous CoCl(2) and NaH afforded polynuclear Co(II) complexes [Co(7)(L)(12)]Cl(2) (1), [Co(6)Na(L)(12)]Cl (2) and [Co(4)Cl(2)(L)(6)] (3), depending on the HL:CoCl(2) ratio set in the reaction. The core structures of the centrosymmetric complexes 1 and 2 are of the M@Co(6) type (M = Co or Na, respectively) with a coplanar arrangement of the metals whereas that of centrosymmetric 3 is of an incomplete dicubane type. The experimental conditions allowing interconversions between these polynuclear complexes have been determined, which provides a more rational control of their synthesis. Thus, 1 transforms to 3 when reacted with CoCl(2) in a 1 : 1 ratio, whereas the same reaction performed with a large excess of CoCl(2) gave the tetranuclear pseudo-cubane complex [Co(4)(L)(4)Cl(2)(MeOH)(4)] upon recrystallization. Conversely, 1 was isolated from the reaction of 3 with HL and NaH. The crystal structure of these compounds is reported, along with the magnetic behaviour of 1 and 3. The analysis of the magnetism using the effective spin-1/2 Hamiltonian approach revealed single-molecule metamagnetic behavior in 3.

Zero-field splittings in metHb and metMb with aquo and fluoro ligands: a FD-FT THz-EPR study

A combined X-band and frequency-domain Fourier-transform THz electron paramagnetic resonance (FD-FT THz-EPR) approach has been employed to determine heme Fe(III) S = 5/2 zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters of frozen metHb and metMb solutions, both with fluoro and aquo ligands. Frequency-domain EPR measurements have been carried out by an improved synchrotron-based FD-FT THz-EPR spectrometer. ZFS has been determined by field dependence of spin transitions within the mS = ±1/2 manifold, for all four protein systems, and by zero-field spin transitions between mS = ±1/2 and mS = ±3/2 levels, for metHb and metMb flouro-states. FD-FT THz-EPR data were simulated with a novel numerical routine based on Easyspin, which allows now for direct comparison of EPR spectra in field and frequency domain. We found purely axial ZFSs of D = 5.0(1) cm−1 (flouro-metMb), D = 9.2(4) cm−1 (aquo-metMb), D = 5.1(1) cm−1 (flouro-metHB) and D = 10.4(2) cm−1 (aquo-metHb).

Structure and mechanism leading to formation of the cysteine sulfinate product complex of a biomimetic cysteine dioxygenase model.

Cysteine dioxygenase is a unique nonheme iron enzyme that is involved in the metabolism of cysteine in the body. It contains an iron active site with an unusual 3-His ligation to the protein, which contrasts with the structural features of common nonheme iron dioxygenases. Recently, some of us reported a truly biomimetic model for this enzyme, namely a trispyrazolylborato iron(II) cysteinato complex, which not only has a structure very similar to the enzyme-substrate complex but also represents a functional model: Treatment of the model with dioxygen leads to cysteine dioxygenation, as shown by isolating the cysteine part of the product in the course of the work-up. However, little is known on the conversion mechanism and, so far, not even the structure of the actual product complex had been characterised, which is also unknown in case of the enzyme. In a multidisciplinary approach including density functional theory calculations and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, we have now determined the structure of the actual sulfinato complex for the first time. The Cys-SO2 (-) functional group was found to be bound in an η(2) -O,O-coordination mode, which, based on the excellent resemblance between model and enzyme, also provides the first support for a corresponding binding mode within the enzymatic product complex. Indeed, this is again confirmed by theory, which had predicted a η(2) -O,O-binding mode for synthetic as well as the natural enzyme.

Simulating Frequency-Domain Electron Paramagnetic Resonance: Bridging the Gap between Experiment and Magnetic Parameters for High-Spin Transition-Metal Ion Complexes.

We present a comparison of experimental and simulated frequency- and field-domain electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of integer and half-integer high-spin transition-metal ion complexes. For the simulation of EPR spectra a new tool within the EPR simulation software EasySpin is introduced, which allows for field- and frequency-domain EPR simulations with the same theoretical model and the same set of spin Hamiltonian parameters. The utility of this approach is demonstrated on the integer-spin complexes NiBr2(PPh3)2 and [Tp2Mn]SbF6 (both S = 1) and the half-integer-spin Fe(III) porphyrins, hemin (Fe(PPIX)Cl) and Fe(TPP)Cl (both S = 5/2). We demonstrate that the combination of field- and frequency-domain EPR techniques allows the determination of spin Hamiltonian parameters, in particular large zero-field splittings, with high accuracy.

Multifaceted magnetization dynamics in the mononuclear complex [ReIVCl4(CN)2]2−

The mononuclear complex (Bu4N)2[ReIVCl4(CN)2]·2DMA (DMA = N,N-dimethylacetamide) displays intricate magnetization dynamics, implying Orbach, direct, and Raman-type relaxation processes. The Orbach relaxation process is characterized by an energy barrier of 39 K (27 cm-1) that is discussed based on high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), inelastic neutron scattering and frequency-domain THz EPR investigations.

Magneto-Structural Correlations in Pseudotetrahedral Forms of the [Co(SPh)4]2– Complex Probed by Magnetometry, MCD Spectroscopy, Advanced EPR Techniques, and ab Initio Electronic Structure Calculations

The magnetic properties of pseudotetrahedral Co(II) complexes spawned intense interest after (PPh4)2[Co(SPh)4] was shown to be the first mononuclear transition-metal complex displaying slow relaxation of the magnetization in the absence of a direct current magnetic field. However, there are differing reports on its fundamental magnetic spin Hamiltonian (SH) parameters, which arise from inherent experimental challenges in detecting large zero-field splittings. There are also remarkable changes in the SH parameters of [Co(SPh)4]2- upon structural variations, depending on the counterion and crystallization conditions. In this work, four complementary experimental techniques are utilized to unambiguously determine the SH parameters for two different salts of [Co(SPh)4]2-: (PPh4)2[Co(SPh)4] (1) and (NEt4)2[Co(SPh)4] (2). The characterization methods employed include multifield SQUID magnetometry, high-field/high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR), variable-field variable-temperature magnetic circular dichroism (VTVH-MCD), and frequency domain Fourier transform THz-EPR (FD-FT THz-EPR). Notably, the paramagnetic Co(II) complex [Co(SPh)4]2- shows strong axial magnetic anisotropy in 1, with D = -55(1) cm-1 and E/D = 0.00(3), but rhombic anisotropy is seen for 2, with D = +11(1) cm-1 and E/D = 0.18(3). Multireference ab initio CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations enable interpretation of the remarkable variation of D and its dependence on the electronic structure and geometry.

General Magnetic Transition Dipole Moments for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

We present general expressions for the magnetic transition rates in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments of anisotropic spin systems in the solid state. The expressions apply to general spin centers and arbitrary excitation geometry (Voigt, Faraday, and intermediate). They work for linear and circular polarized as well as unpolarized excitation, and for crystals and powders. The expressions are based on the concept of the (complex) magnetic transition dipole moment vector. Using the new theory, we determine the parities of ground and excited spin states of high-spin (S=5/2) Fe(III) in hemin from the polarization dependence of experimental EPR line intensities.

Inelastic Neutron Scattering on an Mn10 Supertetrahedron: Assessment of Exchange Coupling Constants, Ferromagnetic Spin Waves and an Analogy to the Hückel Method

The synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic characterisation by magnetisation and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) of a mixed-valent Mn(10) supertetrahedral aggregate [Mn(III)(6)Mn(II)(4)(μ(4)-O)(4)(μ(3)-N(3))(3)(μ(3)-Br)(Hmpt)(6)(Br)]Br(0.7)(N(3))(0.3)·2MeOH·3MeCN (1) (H(3)mpt=3-methylpentan-1,3,5-triol) is reported. The magnetic core of the molecule can be described as an octahedron of six S=2 Mn(III) ions with four faces, each capped by a S=5/2 Mn(II) ion such as to form the supertetrahedron. Unlike most related complexes, the molecular symmetry is slightly reduced from approximately T(d) to C(3). The magnetic data reveal a total spin of S=22 in the ground state due to ferromagnetic exchange couplings within the molecule. The combined INS and magnetic data permits the accurate determination of the exchange coupling constants. Two types are found. The couplings between the Mn(III) ions in the inner octahedron are characterised by J(a)=18.4(3) K, whereas the couplings between the apical Mn(II) ions to the neighbouring Mn(III) ions are given by J(b)=7.3(2) K. The significantly larger coupling strength J(a) as compared to J(b), and the near-T(d) symmetry have profound consequences on the energy spectrum, which are discussed and carefully analysed. In particular, the observed INS spectra can consistently be reproduced by a simplified model in which the inner octahedron is replaced by one large spin of length S(0)=12. This model provides intuitive insight into the structure of the magnetic spectrum. Additionally, the magnetic excitations at low temperature are analysed within the frame of ferromagnetic linear spin-wave theory, which permits an analytical calculation of the energy levels. For ferromagnetic clusters, a close analogy to the Hückel method of electronic structure calculation can be drawn, which allows one to grasp the results of the spin-wave theory or the magnetic excitation spectrum, respectively, in a chemical language.

Magnetism on a Mesoscopic Scale: Molecular Nanomagnets Bridging Quantum and Classical Physics

In recent years polynuclear transition metal molecules have been synthesized and proposed for example as magnetic storage units or qubits in quantum computers. They are known as molecular nanomagnets and belong in the class of mesoscopic systems, which are large enough to display many-body effects but small enough to be away from the finite-size scaling regime. It is a challenge for physicists to understand their magnetic properties, and for synthetic chemists to efficiently tailor them by assembling fundamental units. They are complementary to artificially engineered spin systems for surface deposition, as they support a wider variety of complex states in their low energy spectrum. Here a few characteristic examples of molecular nanomagnets showcasing unusual many-body effects are presented. Antiferromagnetic wheels and chains can be described in classical terms for small sizes and large spins to a great extent, even though their wavefunctions do not significantly overlap with semiclassical configurations. Hence, surprisingly, for them the transition from the classical to the quantum regime is blurred. A specific example is the Fe18 wheel, which displays quantum phase interference by allowing Neel vector tunneling in a magnetic field. Finally, the Co5Cl single-molecule magnet is shown to have an unusual anisotropic response to a magnetic field.