Hendecanuclear [Cu6Gd5] magnetic cooler with high molecular symmetry of D3h

A new family of isostructural 3d-4f polymetallic complexes, formulated as [Cu(6)Ln(5)(mu(3)-OH)(9) (C4H8O2N)(6)(C5H4ON)(6)(H2O)(9)].(ClO4)(6).(H2O)(22) (Ln = Pr, 1; Nd, 2; Sm, 3; Eu, 4; Gd, 5), was successfully isolated through the simple hydrolysis reaction of 2-aminoisobutyric acid, 2-hydroxypyridine, Cu(CH3COO)(2).H2O, and Ln(ClO4)(3).6H(2)O. Notably, the [Cu(6)Ln(5)] clusters with high molecular symmetry of D3h are rare examples of 2-aminoisobutyric acid-based 3d-4f clusters. The successful theoretical modeling of 5 yielded that the Gd-Gd exchange is of order 0.2 K, whereas the Gd-Cu exchange is an order of magnitude larger. Magnetization data collected for complex 5 yield a magnetic entropy change (-Delta S-m) of 19.6 J kg(-1) K-1 at 3 K and 7 T, which may be attributed to the weak magnetic interactions between the component metal ions. (C) 2020 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A new family of isostructural 3d-4f polymetallic complexes has been successfully isolated through a simple hydrolysis reaction, showing unique molecular symmetry and magnetic exchange properties. The results may provide insights for research in the field of magnetic materials.