Kevin Mason

New structural types and different oxidation levels in the family of Mn6-oxime single-molecule magnets.

The synthesis and magnetic properties of three new members of a family of salicyaldoxime based [Mn6] single-molecule magnets possessing new structural types, core topologies and Mn oxidation state distributions are reported. The isostructural complexes [MnIII6O2(R-sao)6(X)2(EtOH)6] (R = Et, X = Br (1); R = Me, X = I (2)) exhibit single-molecule magnet behaviour with spin Hamiltonian parameters S = 12, g = 1.98 and D = -0.36 cm(-1) in both cases. The hexametallic cluster [MnIII4MnIV2O2(OMe)(4-)(Et-sao)6(MeOH)2].MeOH (3.MeOH) possesses a planar rod-like topology and a mixed valent [MnIV4MnIII2] core, which is unprecedented in this family of [Mn6] SMMs.

Building Fe(III) clusters with derivatised salicylaldoximes

The syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of nine new iron complexes containing salicylaldoxime (saoH(2)) or derivatised salicylaldoximes (R-saoH(2)), [Fe(3)O(OMe)(Ph-sao)(2)Cl(2)(py)(3)].2MeOH (1.2MeOH), [Fe(3)O(OMe)(Ph-sao)(2)Br(2)(py)(3)].Et(2)O (2.Et(2)O), [Fe(4)(Ph-sao)(4)F(4)(py)(4)].1.5MeOH (3.1.5MeOH), [Fe(6)O(2)(OH)(2)(Et-sao)(2)(Et-saoH)(2)(O(2)CPh)(6)] (4), [HNEt(3)](2)[Fe(6)O(2)(OH)(2)(Et-sao)(4)(O(2)CPh(Me)(2))(6)].2MeCN (5.2MeCN), [Fe(6)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(10)(3-(t)But-5-NO(2)-sao)(2)(H(2)O)(2)].2MeCN (6.2MeCN), [Fe(6)O(2)(O(2)CCH(2)Ph)(10)(3-(t)But-sao)(2)(H(2)O)(2)].5MeCN (7.5MeCN), {[Fe(6)Na(3)O(OH)(4)(Me-sao)(6)(OMe)(3)(H(2)O)(3)(MeOH)(6)].MeOH}n (8.MeOH) and [HNEt(3)](2)[Fe(12)Na(4)O(2)(OH)(8)(sao)(12)(OMe)(6)(MeOH)(10)] (9) are discussed. The predominant building block appears to be the triangular [Fe(3)O(R-sao)(3)](+) species which can self-assemble into more elaborate arrays depending on reaction conditions. An interesting observation is that the R-saoH(-)/R-sao(2-) ligand system tends to adopt coordination modes similar to carboxylates. The most unusual molecule is the [Fe(4)F(4)] molecular square, 3. While Cl(-) and Br(-) appear to act only as terminal ligands, the F(-) ions bridge making a telling impact on molecular structure and topology.

A F-bridged Mn(II) molecular square

We report on a tetranuclear Mn(ii) complex possessing a F-bridged molecular square topology directed by 1,10-phenanthroline ligands.

Rationalization of Anomalous Pseudocontact Shifts and Their Solvent Dependence in a Series of C3-Symmetric Lanthanide Complexes

Bleaneys long-standing theory of magnetic anisotropy has been employed with some success for many decades to explain paramagnetic NMR pseudocontact shifts, and has been the subject of many subsequent approximations. Here, we present a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation accounting for the anomalous solvent dependence of NMR shifts for a series of lanthanide(III) complexes, namely [LnL1] (Ln = Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb; L1: 1,4,7-tris[(6-carboxypyridin-2-yl)methyl]-1,4,7-triazacyclononane), taking into account the effect of subtle ligand flexibility on the electronic structure. We show that the anisotropy of the room temperature magnetic susceptibility tensor, which in turn affects the sign and magnitude of the pseudocontact chemical shift, is extremely sensitive to minimal structural changes in the first coordination sphere of L1. We show that DFT structural optimizations do not give accurate structural models, as assessed by the experimental chemical shifts, and thus we determine a magnetostructural correlation and employ this to evaluate the accurate solution structure for each [LnL1]. This approach allows us to explain the counterintuitive pseudocontact shift behavior, as well as a striking solvent dependence. These results have important consequences for the analysis and design of novel magnetic resonance shift and optical emission probes that are sensitive to the local solution environment and polarity.

PARASHIFT Probes: Solution NMR and X-ray Structural Studies of Macrocyclic Ytterbium and Yttrium Complexes

Ytterbium and yttrium complexes of octadentate ligands based on 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane with a coordinated pyridyl group and either tricarboxylate (L1) or triphosphinate (L2) donors form twisted-square-antiprismatic structures. The former crystallizes in the centrosymmetric group P21/c, with the two molecules related by an inversion center, whereas the latter was found as an unusual kryptoracemate in the chiral space group P21. Pure shift NMR and EXSY spectroscopy allowed the dynamic exchange between the (RRR)-Δ-(δδδδ) and (RRR)-Λ-(λλλλ) TSAP diastereomers of the [Y.L2] complex to be detected. The rate-limiting step in the exchange between Δ and Λ isomers involves cooperative ligand arm rotation, which is much faster for [Ln.L1] than for [Ln.L2]. Detailed analysis of NOESY, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC spectra confirms that the major conformer in solution is (RRR)-Λ-(λλλλ), consistent with crystal structure analysis and DFT calculations. The magnetic susceptibility tensors for [Yb.L1] and [Yb.L2], obtained from a full pseudocontact chemical shift analysis, are very different, in agreement with a CASSCF calculation. The remarkably different pseudocontact shift behavior is explained by the change in the orientation of the pseudocontact shift field, as defined by the Euler angles of the susceptibility tensor.

Beyond Bleaney's Theory: Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of Periodic Trends in Lanthanide Induced Chemical Shift

A detailed analysis of paramagnetic NMR shifts in a series of isostructural lanthanide complexes relavant to PARASHIFT contrast agents reveals unexpected trends in the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy that cannot be explained by the commonly used Bleaneys theory. Ab initio calculations reveal that the primary assumption of Bleaneys theory-that thermal energy is larger than the ligand field splitting-does not hold for the lanthanide complexes in question, and likely for a large fraction of lanthanide complexes in general. This makes the orientation of the magnetic susceptibility tensor differ significantly between complexes of different lanthanides with the same ligand: one of the most popular assumptions about isostructural lanthanide series is wrong.

A family of [Ni8] cages templated by μ6-peroxide from dioxygen activation

A family of exceptionally thermally stable [Ni8] cages is reported, each being templated by a rare η3:η3:μ6-O22− species produced by dioxygen activation, where the reducing agent for the O2 reduction appears to be the ligand used in the reaction mixtures, which was found within the nickel cages in its oxidized form.

Salicylaldoxime-Supported Nona- and Tetrametallic Fe III Cages

The syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of seven new iron complexes, (Fe4O2(sao)4(tacn)2)·2MeOH·H2O (1·2MeOH·H2O), (Fe4O2(Me-sao)4(tacn)2)·2MeCN (2·2MeCN), (Fe4O2(Et- sao)4(tacn)2)·MeOH (3·MeOH), (Fe9NaO4(Et-sao)6(hmp)8)·3MeCN·Et2O (4·3MeCN·Et2O), (Fe4(Et-sao)4(hmp)4)·Et-saoH2 (5·Et-saoH2), (Fe4(Ph-sao)4(hmp)4)·2MeCN (6·2MeCN) (Fe9O3(sao)(pdm)6(N3)7(H2O)) (7), stabilised with salicylal- doxime (saoH2) or derivatised salicylaldoxime (R-saoH2) ligands in conjunction with either 1,4,7-triazocyclononane (tacn), 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (hmpH) or 2,6-pyridinedimethanol (pdmH2) are discussed.

Exquisite sensitivity of the ligand field to solvation and donor polarisability in coordinatively saturated lanthanide complexes

Crystallographic, emission and NMR studies of a series of C3-symmetric, nine-coordinate substituted pyridyl triazacyclononane Yb(iii) and Eu(iii) complexes reveal the impact of local solvation and ligand dipolar polarisability on ligand field strength, leading to dramatic variations in pseudocontact NMR shifts and emission spectral profiles, giving new guidance for responsive NMR and spectral probe design.

Aggregation of Rare Earth Coordination Complexes in Solution Studied by Paramagnetic and DOSY NMR

The degree of aggregation of neutral, 9-coordinate rare earth coordination complexes has been shown to affect their ligand field, as revealed by diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY-NMR) measurements on Y(III) complexes, paramagnetic NMR analyses of Yb and Tb analogues and emission spectral studies with the EuIII systems. In non-polar media a lipophilic tris-isopropyl complex, [Ln.L2 ] tends to aggregate in chloroform and dichloromethane giving rise to oligomers, whereas in acetic and trifluoroacetic acid the more polar parent complex, [Ln.L1 ], also aggregates, profoundly affecting the pseudocontact shift and the form of the Eu emission spectrum. Such behaviour has important implications in the design of responsive spectral probes.