Linear trinuclear cobalt(II) single molecule magnet

The introduction of NaBPh4 into a methanolic solution of CoCl2 center dot 6H(2)O and 2-[(pyridine-2-ylimine)methyl] phenol (Hpymp) afforded {[Co-3(II)(pymp)(4)(MeOH)(2)][BPh4](2)}center dot 2MeOH (1) with a centro-symmetrically linear trinuclear structure. Magnetic analysis of 1 exhibited significant intracluster ferromagnetic exchange (2.4 cm(-1)) and slow relaxation of magnetization in both zero and non-zero static fields below 5 K, giving the first [Co-3(II)] single molecule magnet with an effective energy barrier of 17.2(3) cm(-1) under a 500 Oe dc field.