Luca Rigamonti

Cooperation between Cis and Trans Influences in cis-PtII(PPh3)2 Complexes: Structural, Spectroscopic, and Computational Studies

The relevance of cis and trans influences of some anionic ligands X and Y in cis-[PtX(2)(PPh(3))(2)] and cis-[PtXY(PPh(3))(2)] complexes have been studied by the X-ray crystal structures of several derivatives (X(2) = (AcO)(2) (3), (NO(3))(2) (5), Br(2) (7), I(2) (11); and XY = Cl(AcO) (2), Cl(NO(3)) (4), and Cl(NO(2)) (13)), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and one bond Pt-P coupling constants, (1)J(PtP). The latter have allowed an evaluation of the relative magnitude of both influences. It is concluded that such influences act in a cooperative way and that the cis influence is not irrelevant when rationalizing the (1)J(PtP) values, as well as the experimental Pt-P bond distances. On the contrary, in the optimized geometries, evaluated through B3LYP/def2-SVP calculations, the cis influence was not observed, except for compounds ClPh (21), Ph(2) (22), and, to a lesser extent, Cl(NO(2)) (13) and (NO(2))(2) (14). A natural bond order analysis on the optimized structures, however, has shown how the cis influence can be related to the s-character of the Pt hybrid orbital involved in the Pt-P bonds and the net atomic charge on Pt. We have also found that in the X-ray structures of cis-[PtX(2)(PPh(3))(2)] complexes the two Pt-X and the two Pt-P bond lengths are different each other and are related to the conformation of the phosphine groups, rather than to the crystal packing, since this feature is observed also in the optimized geometries.

Enhanced Vapor-Phase Processing in Fluorinated Fe4 Single-Molecule Magnets

A new tetrairon(III) single-molecule magnet with enhanced volatility and processability was obtained by partial fluorination of the ancillary β-diketonato ligands. Fluorinated proligand Hpta = pivaloyltrifluoroacetone was used to assemble the bis(alkoxido)-bridged dimer [Fe2(OEt)2(pta)4] (1) in crystalline form, from which the new tetranuclear complex [Fe4(L)2(pta)6] (2) was synthesized in a one-pot reaction with H3L = 2-hydroxymethyl-2-phenylpropane-1,3-diol, NaOEt, and FeCl3 in a Et2O:EtOH solvent mixture. The structure of compound 2 was inferred from (1)H NMR, mass spectrometry, magnetic measurements, and DFT calculations. Direct current magnetic data are consistent with the expected metal-centered triangular topology for the iron(III) ions, with an antiferromagnetic coupling constant J = 16.20(6) cm(-1) between the central iron and the peripheral ones and consequent stabilization of an S = 5 spin ground state. Alternating current (ac) susceptibility measurements in 0 and 1 kOe static applied fields show the presence of a thermally activated process for magnetic relaxation, with τ0 = 2.3(1) 10(-7) s and U(eff)/kB = 9.9(1) K at zero static field and τ0 = 2.0(2) 10(-7) s and U(eff)/kB = 13.0(2) K at 1 kOe. At a pressure of 10(-7) mbar, compound 2 sublimates at (440 ± 5) K vs (500 ± 10) K for the nonfluorinated variant [Fe4(L)2(dpm)6] (Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane). According to XPS, ToF-SIMS, and ac susceptibility studies, the chemical composition, fragmentation pattern, and slow magnetic relaxation of the pristine material are retained in sublimated samples, suggesting that the molecular structure remains totally unaffected upon vapor-phase processing.

Redox-Controlled Exchange Bias in a Supramolecular Chain of Fe4 Single-Molecule Magnets†

Tetrairon(III) single-molecule magnets [Fe4(pPy)2(dpm)6] (1) (H3pPy=2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)propane-1,3-diol, Hdpm=dipivaloylmethane) have been deliberately organized into supramolecular chains by reaction with Ru(II)Ru(II) or Ru(II)Ru(III) paddlewheel complexes. The products [Fe4(pPy)2(dpm)6][Ru2(OAc)4](BF4)x with x=0 (2 a) or x=1 (2 b) differ in the electron count on the paramagnetic diruthenium bridges and display hysteresis loops of substantially different shape. Owing to their large easy-plane anisotropy, the s=1 diruthenium(II,II) units in 2 a act as effective s(eff)=0 spins and lead to negligible intrachain communication. By contrast, the mixed-valent bridges (s=3/2, s(eff)=1/2) in 2 b introduce a significant exchange bias, with concomitant enhancement of the remnant magnetization. Our results suggest the possibility to use electron transfer to tune intermolecular communication in redox-responsive arrays of SMMs.

Valence electronic structure of sublimated Fe4 single-molecule magnets: an experimental and theoretical characterization

The valence electronic structures of two single-molecule magnets (SMMs), [Fe4(L)2(dpm)6] and [Fe4(L)2(pta)6], (Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane, Hpta = pivaloyltrifluoroacetone, L3− = Ph–C(CH2O)33−), are investigated by means of ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and ab initio calculations. The experimental UPS spectra of both compounds are analysed and compared with the total density of states (TDOS) computed with the hybrid functional PBE0. The substitution of half of the methyl groups in [Fe4(L)2(dpm)6] with fluorine atoms in [Fe4(L)2(pta)6] unexpectedly affects the spectrum shape in the Fermi region, thus becoming a useful fingerprint of the two SMMs. Moreover, a computational protocol at DFT + U level of theory is assessed on both compounds, which is in good agreement with the experimental spectroscopic and magnetic data. The basis for the future modelling of the adsorption of Fe4 clusters on surfaces is established.

Magnetic blocking in extended metal atom chains: a pentachromium(II) complex behaving as a single-molecule magnet

Compound [Cr5(tpda)4Cl2] (H2tpda = N(2),N(6)-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridine-2,6-diamine), an Extended Metal Atom Chain complex featuring two quadruply-bonded {Cr2} units, exhibits field-induced slow relaxation of its magnetization arising from the terminal chromium(II) ion and provides the first example of a chromium(II)-based Single-Molecule Magnet.

Diamondoid Structure in a Metal–Organic Framework of Fe4Single-Molecule Magnets

A 3D metal-organic framework (MOF) having single-molecule magnet (SMM) linkers was prepared in crystalline form by using a tetrairon(III) complex functionalised with two divergent pyridyl groups, namely [Fe4 (pPy)2 (dpm)6 ] (1; H3 pPy=2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)propane-1,3-diol, Hdpm=dipivaloylmethane). Reaction of 1 with silver(I) perchlorate afforded {[Fe4 (pPy)2 (dpm)6 ]2 Ag}ClO4 (2), which crystallises in a cubic face-centred lattice and exhibits two interlocked diamondoid networks. In 2, the SMMs act as linear ditopic synthons, and silver(I) ions as tetrahedral nodes coordinated by four pyridyl nitrogen atoms. The magnetic properties of 1 (S=5 and D≈-0.4 cm(-1) in the ground spin state) are largely preserved in 2, which shows slow magnetic relaxation with an anisotropy barrier of Ueff /kB =11.46(10) K in zero field and 14.25(8) K in an applied field of 1 kOe. However, crystal symmetry triggers highly noncollinear magnetic anisotropy contributions oriented at 109.47° from each other along the threefold axes of AgN4 tetrahedra, a unique scenario fully confirmed by a single-crystal cantilever torque magnetometry investigation. Magnetisation curves down to 0.03 K demonstrated the occurrence of a wide hysteresis loop when the magnetic field was swept along one of the four Ag-N bonds. By symmetry, the crystalline compound can then be persistently magnetised parallel or antiparallel to the four main diagonals of the unit cell, although the crystals have no overall second-order anisotropy.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Magnetic Anisotropy in Lanthanide(III)-Centered Fe3Ln Propellers†

Compounds [Fe3 Ln(tea)2 (dpm)6 ] (Fe3 Ln; Ln= Tb-Yb, H3 tea=triethanolamine, Hdpm=dipivaloylmethane) were synthesized as lanthanide(III)-centered variants of tetrairon(III) single-molecule magnets (Fe4 ) and isolated in crystalline form. Compounds with Ln=Tb-Tm are isomorphous and show crystallographic threefold symmetry. The coordination environment of the rare earth, given by two tea(3-) ligands, can be described as a bicapped distorted trigonal prism with D3 symmetry. Magnetic measurements showed the presence of weak ferromagnetic Fe⋅⋅⋅Ln interactions for derivatives with Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er, and of weak antiferromagnetic or negligible coupling in complexes with Tm and Yb. Alternating current susceptibility measurements showed simple paramagnetic behavior down to 1.8 K and for frequencies reaching 10000 Hz, despite the easy-axis magnetic anisotropy found in Fe3 Dy, Fe3 Er, and Fe3 Tm by single-crystal angle-resolved magnetometry. Relativistic quantum chemistry calculations were performed on Fe3 Ln (Ln=Tb-Tm): the ground J multiplet of Ln(3+) ion is split by the crystal field to give a ground singlet state for Tb and Tm, and a doublet for Dy, Ho, and Er with a large admixture of mJ states. Gyromagnetic factors result in no predominance of gz component along the threefold axis, with comparable gx and gy values in all compounds. It follows that the environment provided by the tea(3-) ligands, though uniaxial, is unsuitable to promote slow magnetic relaxation in Fe3 Ln species.

UHV deposition and characterization of a mononuclear iron(III) β-diketonate complex on Au(111)

Summary The adsorption of the sterically hindered β-diketonate complex Fe(dpm)3, where Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane, on Au(111) was investigated by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The high volatility of the molecule limited the growth of the film to a few monolayers. While UPS evidenced the presence of the β-diketonate ligands on the surface, the integrity of the molecule on the surface could not be assessed. The low temperature STM images were more informative and at submonolayer coverage they showed the presence of regular domains characterized by a flat morphology and height of ≈0.3 nm. Along with these domains, tetra-lobed features adsorbed on the kinks of the herringbone were also observed. DFT-simulated images of the pristine molecule and its possible decomposition products allowed to assess the partial fragmentation of Fe(dpm)3 upon adsorption on the Au(111) surface. Structural features with intact molecules were only observed for the saturation coverage. An ex situ prepared thick film of the complex was also investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and features typical of high-spin iron(III) in octahedral environment were observed.

A Pseudo‐Octahedral Cobalt(II) Complex with Bispyrazolylpyridine Ligands Acting as a Zero‐Field Single‐Molecule Magnet with Easy Axis Anisotropy

The homoleptic mononuclear compound [Co(bpp-COOMe)2 ](ClO4 )2  (1) (bpp-COOMe=methyl 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine-4-carboxylate) crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group, and the cobalt(II) ion possesses a pseudo-octahedral environment given by the two mer-coordinated tridentate ligands. Direct-current magnetic data, single-crystal torque magnetometry, and EPR measurements disclosed the easy-axis nature of this cobalt(II) complex, which shows single-molecule magnet behavior when a static field is applied in alternating-current susceptibility measurements. Diamagnetic dilution in the zinc(II) analogue [Zn(bpp-COOMe)2 ](ClO4 )2  (2) afforded the derivative [Zn0.95 Co0.05 (bpp-COOMe)2 ](ClO4 )2  (3), which exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization even in zero field thanks to the reduction of dipolar interactions. Theoretical calculations confirmed the overall electronic structure and the magnetic scenario of the compound as drawn by experimental data, thus confirming the spin-phonon Raman relaxation mechanism, and a direct quantum tunneling in the ground state as the most plausible relaxation pathway in zero field.

New curcumin-derived ligands and their affinity towards Ga3+, Fe3+ and Cu2+: spectroscopic studies on complex formation and stability in solution

The metal complexing ability in solution of four substituted curcumin (CUR)-derived ligands K3T, originated by the insertion of the –CH2CH2COOtBu branch on the central atom of the diketonic moiety of CUR and related derivatives with variable meta and para substituents (OH, OMe, H, OCOCH3) on the peripheral aromatic rings, is examined. These molecules can act as new chelators with biological properties comparable to those of CUR but with improved stability. In fact, curcuminoids represent new perspectives for the development of novel therapeutic agents for several diseases including Alzheimers disease. CUR showed neuroprotective properties, and a probable mechanism of its action is related to the complexation ability towards endogenous metal ions Fe3+ and Cu2+. K3T derivatives retain the solvent-dependent diketo–ketoenol tautomerism, with the prevalence of the diketonic form in aqueous solution. They show enhanced stability in simulated physiological conditions (phosphate buffered solution at pH = 7.4) compared to CUR, together with similar or even higher anti-proliferative activity against human colon carcinoma cells HCT116. The addition of the metal ion causes dissociation of the enolic proton creating chelate complexes and shift of the tautomeric equilibrium toward the keto–enol species. The formation of metal complexes was followed and confirmed by both NMR (using Ga3+ as a diamagnetic probe for Fe3+) and UV-visible spectroscopy. All the ligands showed high affinity for Fe3+ and Ga3+, forming M : L 1 : 2 species. In view of therapeutic applications, notable is the good affinity of K3T31, i.e. the ligand bearing only OH groups in para positions of the aromatic rings, for Cu2+, and the ability of the Cu : K3T31 1 : 1 complex to bind to DNA.