Olivier Cador

Magnetic Memory in an Isotopically Enriched and Magnetically Isolated Mononuclear Dysprosium Complex

The influence of nuclear spin on the magnetic hysteresis of a single-molecule is evidenced. Isotopically enriched Dy(III) complexes are synthesized and an isotopic dependence of their magnetic relaxation is observed. This approach is coupled with tuning of the molecular environment through dilution in an amorphous or an isomorphous diamagnetic matrix. The combination of these approaches leads to a dramatic enhancement of the magnetic memory of the molecule. This general recipe can be efficient for rational optimization of single-molecule magnets (SMMs), and provides an important step for their integration into molecule-based devices.

Magnetic Poles Determinations and Robustness of Memory Effect upon Solubilization in a DyIII-Based Single Ion Magnet

The [Dy(tta)3(L)] complex behaves as a single ion magnet both in its crystalline phase and in solution. Experimental and theoretical magnetic anisotropy axes perfectly match and lie along the most electro-negative atoms of the coordination sphere. Both VSM and MCD measurements highlight the robustness of the complex, with persistence of the memory effect even in solution up to 4 K.

Functional silica nanoparticles synthesized by water-in-oil microemulsion processes.

Water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion is a well-suitable confined reacting medium for the synthesis of structured functional nanoparticles of controlled size and shape. During the last decade, it allowed the synthesis of multi-functional silica nanoparticles with morphologies as various as core-shell, homogenous dispersion or both together. The morphology and properties of the different intermediates and final materials obtained through this route are discussed in the light of UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and magnetometer SQUID analysis.

Tetrathiafulvalene-amido-2-pyridine-N-oxide as Efficient Charge-Transfer Antenna Ligand for the Sensitization of YbIII Luminescence in a Series of Lanthanide Paramagnetic Coordination Complexes

The tetrathiafulvalene-amido-2-pyridine-N-oxide (L) ligand has been employed to coordinate 4f elements. The architecture of the complexes mainly depends on the ionic radii of the lanthanides. Thus, the reaction of L in the same experimental protocol leads to three different molecular structure series. Binuclear [Ln(2)(hfac)(5)(O(2)CPhCl)(L)(3)]·2 H(2)O (hfac(-)=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion, O(2)CPhCl(-)=3-chlorobenzoate anion) and mononuclear [Ln(hfac)(3)(L)(2)] complexes were obtained by using rare-earth ions with either large (Ln(III)=Pr, Gd) or small (Ln(III)=Y, Yb) ionic radius, respectively, whereas the use of Tb(III) that possesses an intermediate ionic radius led to the formation of a binuclear complex of formula [Tb(2)(hfac)(4)(O(2)CPhCl)(2)(L)(2)]. Antiferromagnetic interactions have been observed in the three dinuclear compounds by using an extended empirical method. Photophysical properties of the coordination complexes have been studied by solid-state absorption spectroscopy, whereas time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations have been carried out on the diamagnetic Y(III) derivative to build a molecular orbital diagram and to reproduce the absorption spectrum. For the [Yb(hfac)(3)(L)(2)] complex, the excitation at 19,600 cm(-1) of the HOMO→LUMO+1/LUMO+2 charge-transfer transition induces both line-shape emissions in the near-IR spectral range assigned to the (2)F(5/2)→(2)F(7/2) (9860 cm(-1)) ytterbium-centered transition and a residual charge-transfer emission around 13,150 cm(-1). An efficient antenna effect that proceeds through energy transfer from the singlet excited state of the tetrathiafulvalene-amido-2-pyridine-N-oxide chromophore is evidence of the Yb(III) sensitization.

Single-Molecule Magnet Behaviour in a Tetrathiafulvalene-Based Electroactive Antiferromagnetically Coupled Dinuclear Dysprosium(III) Complex

The reactions between the [Ln(tta)(3)]·2H(2)O precursors (tta(-)=2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate anion) and the tetrathiafulvalene-3-pyridine-N-oxide ligands (L(1)) lead to dinuclear complexes of formula [{Ln(tta)(3)(L(1))}(2)]·xCH(2)Cl(2) (x=0.5 for Ln=Dy(III) (1) and x=0 for Ln=Gd(III) (2)). The crystal structure reveals that two {Ln(tta)(3)} moieties are bridged by two donors through the nitroxide groups. The Dy(III) centre adopts a distorted square antiprismatic oxygenated polyhedron structure. The antiferromagnetic nature of the exchange interaction between the two Dy(III) ions has been determined by two methods: 1) an empirical method using the [Dy(hfac)(3)(L(2))(2)] mononuclear complex as a model (3) (hfac(-)=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion, L(2)=tetrathiafulvaleneamido-2-pyridine-N-oxide ligand), and 2) assuming an Ising model for the Dy(III) ion giving an exchange energy of -2.30 cm(-1), g=19.2 in the temperature range of 2-10 K. The antiferromagnetic interactions have been confirmed by a quantitative determination of J for the isotropic Gd(III) derivative (J=-0.031 cm(-1), g=2.003). Compound 1 displays a slow magnetisation relaxation without applied external magnetic fields. Alternating current susceptibility shows a thermally activated behaviour with pre-exponential factors of 5.48(4)×10(-7) s and an energy barrier of 87(1) K. The application of an external field of 1.6 kOe compensates the antiferromagnetic interactions and opens a new quantum tunnelling path.

Delicate Crystal Structure Changes Govern the Magnetic Properties of 1D Coordination Polymers Based on 3d Metal Carboxylates

Homo- and heterometallic 1D coordination polymers of transition metals (Co II, Mn II, Zn II) have been synthesized by an in-situ ligand generation route. Carboxylato-based complexes [Co(PhCOO)2]n (1 a, 1 b), [Co(p-MePhCOO)2]n (2), [ZnMn(PhCOO)4]n (3), and [CoZn(PhCOO)4]n (4) (PhCOOH=benzoic acid, p-MePhCOOH=p-methylbenzoic acid) have been characterized by chemical analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and magnetization measurements. The new complexes 2 and 3 crystallize in orthorhombic space groups Pnab and Pcab respectively. Their crystal structures consist of zigzag chains, with alternating M(II) centers in octahedral and tetrahedral positions, which are similar to those of 1 a and 1 b. Compound 4 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2 1/c and comprises zigzag chains of M II ions in a tetrahedral coordination environment. Magnetic investigations reveal the existence of antiferromagnetic interactions between magnetic centers in the heterometallic complexes 3 and 4, while ferromagnetic interactions operate in homometallic compounds (1 a, 1 b, and 2). Compound 1 b orders ferromagnetically at TC=3.7 K whereas 1 a does not show any magnetic ordering down to 330 mK and displays typical single-chain magnet (SCM) behavior with slowing down of magnetization relaxation below 0.6 K. Single-crystal measurements reveal that the system is easily magnetized in the chain direction for 1 a whereas the chain direction coincides with the hard magnetic axis in 1 b. Despite important similarities, small differences in the molecular and crystal structures of these two compounds lead to this dramatic change in properties.

Slow Magnetic Relaxation in Condensed versus Dispersed Dysprosium(III) Mononuclear Complexes

Reaction of the ligands 4,5-bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvalene-2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (L(1)) and 4,5-bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvalene-2-(2-pyridyl)-3-(2-pyridinylmethyl)benzimidazole (L(2)) with Dy(hfac)3⋅2 H2O (hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate) gave mononuclear complexes [Dy(hfac)3(L(1))] (1) and [Dy(hfac)3(L(2))] (2). In both compounds the Dy(III) ion is surrounded by six oxygen and two nitrogen atoms. Complex 1 displays single-ion magnet (SIM) behaviour only in solution (Δ=12(1) K and τ0 =1.9(4)×10(-6)  s), while complex 2 is a SIM in both solution (Δ=15(2) K and τ0 =1.5(3)×10(-6)  s) and solid state (Δ=17(2) K and τ0 =9.5(2)×10(-6)  s). The SIM behaviour is obtained if the hydrogen bond is broken by dissolution (1 in solution) or by alkylation (2). Multiple relaxation processes were identified for 2 with two competing processes: a fast one in zero field and a slow one for fields higher than 500 Oe. The two processes coexist for intermediate applied magnetic field. Magnetic-dilution and frozen-solution measurements led to the conclusion that the origin of these multiple relaxation processes is not due to the property of a single molecule.

3,5-Bis(ethynyl)pyridine and 2,6-bis(ethynyl)pyridine spanning two Fe(Cp*)(dppe) units: role of the nitrogen atom on the electronic and magnetic couplings.

The role of the nitrogen atom on the electronic and magnetic couplings of the mono-oxidized and bi-oxidized pyridine-containing complex models [2,6-{Cp(dpe)Fe-C≡C-}(2)(NC(5)H(3))](n+) and [3,5-{Cp(dpe)Fe-C≡C-}(2)(NC(5)H(3))](n+) is theoretically tackled with the aid of density-functional theory (DFT) and multireference configuration interaction (MR-CI) calculations. Results are analyzed and compared to those obtained for the reference complex [1,3-{Cp*(dppe)Fe-C≡C-)}(2)(C(6)H(4))](n+). The mono-oxidized species show an interesting behavior at the borderline between spin localization and delocalization and one through-bond communication path among the two involving the central ring, is favored. Investigation of the spin state of the dicationic complexes indicates ferromagnetic coupling, which can differ in magnitude from one complex to the other. Very importantly, electronic and magnetic properties of these species strongly depend not only upon the location of the nitrogen atom in the ring versus that of the organometallic end-groups but also upon the architectural arrangement of one terminus, with respect to the other and/or vis-à-vis the central ring. To help validate the theoretical results, the related families of compounds [1,3-{Cp*(dppe)Fe-C≡C-)}(2)(C(6)H(4))](n+), [2,6-{Cp*(dppe)Fe-C≡C-}(2)(NC(5)H(3))](n+), [3,5-{Cp*(dppe)Fe-C≡C-}(2)(NC(5)H(3))](n+) (n = 0-2) were experimentally synthesized and characterized. Electrochemical, spectroscopic (infrared (IR), Mössbauer), electronic (near-infrared (NIR)), and magnetic properties (electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)) are discussed and interpreted in the light of the theoretical data. The set of data obtained allows for many strong conclusions to be drawn. A N atom in the long branch increases the ferromagnetic interaction between the two Fe(III) spin carriers (J > 500 cm(-1)), whereas, when placed in the short branch, it dramatically reduces the magnetic exchange in the di-oxidized species (J = 2.14(5) cm(-1)). In the mixed-valence compounds, when the N atom is positioned on the long branch, the intermediate excited state is higher in energy than the different ground-state conformers and the relaxation process provides exclusively the Fe(II)/Fe(III) localized system (H(ab) ≠ 0). Positioning the N atom on the short branch modifies the energy profile and the diabatic mediating state lies just above the reactant and product diabatic states. Consequently, the LMCT transition becomes less energetic than the MMCT transition. Here, the direct coupling does not occur (H(ab) = 0) and only the coupling through the bridge (c) and the reactant (a) and product (b) diabatic states is operating (H(ac) = H(bc) ≠ 0).

Redox-active organometallics: magnetic and electronic couplings through carbon-silicon hybrid molecular connectors.

Treatment of the triflate complex Cp*(dppe)FeOTf [12; Cp* = eta(5)-C(5)(CH(3))(5), dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, OTf = CF(3)SO(3)] with an excess of HC[triple bond]C-(Si(CH(3))(2))(x)-C[triple bond]CH (x = 2-4) in diethyl ether provides the binuclear bis(vinylidene) derivatives [Cp*(dppe)Fe=C=CH(Si(CH(3))(2))(x)CH=C=Fe(dppe)Cp*][OTf](2) (x = 2, 13; x = 3, 14; x = 4, 15), which were isolated as ochre solids and rapidly characterized by FT-IR, (1)H, (31)P, and (13)C NMR spectroscopies. The complexes 13-15 were reacted with potassium tert-butoxide to afford the bis(alkynediyl) complexes [Cp*(dppe)Fe-C[triple bond]C(Si(CH(3))(2))(x)C[triple bond]C-Fe(dppe)Cp*] (x = 2, 1; x = 3, 2; x = 4, 3), which were isolated as orange powders in yields ranging from 76 to 91%. The IR, cyclic voltammetry, and UV-vis data obtained for 1-3 and the X-ray crystal structures determined for 1 and 3 reveal the importance of the sigma-pi conjugation (hyperconjugation) between the Si-Si sigma bond and the adjacent C[triple bond]C pi-symmetric orbitals in the description of the electronic structure of the ground state of these complexes. When reacted at low temperature with 2 equiv of [(C(5)H(5))(2)Fe]X or AgX [X = BPh(4), B(3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3))(4))], compounds 1-3 provide 1[X](2), 2[X](2), and 3[X](2), which can be isolated and stored below -20 degrees C. EPR spectroscopy and magnetization measurements established that the superexchange interaction propagates through the Si-Si bonds (J = -0.97(2) cm(-1) for 3[X](2)). UV-vis-near-IR spectra were obtained with an optically transparent thin-layer electrosynthetic (OTTLE) cell for 1-3[OTf](n) (n = 0-2). A band with a maximum that increases from 6400 cm(-1) (1[OTf]) to 8500 cm(-1) (3[OTf]) observed for the mixed-valence species was ascribed to intervalence charge transfer evidencing photodriven electron transfer through the carbon-silicon hybrid connectors with H(ab) parameters ranging from 64 to 285 cm(-1).

First trinuclear paramagnetic transition metal complexes with redox active ligands derived from TTF: Co2M(PhCOO)6(TTF-CH=CH-py)2.2CH3CN, M = CoII, MnII.

The first paramagnetic homo- and hetero-metallic trinuclear complexes with redox active ligands derived from TTF are synthesized, the central metal ion has an octahedral coordination sphere while the outer Co(II) ions are in a distorted bipyramidal surrounding, bearing TTF-ligands, the magnetic properties show antiferromagnetic coupling leading to a magnetic ground state.