Strong Ferromagnetic Exchange Coupling and Single-Molecule Magnetism in MoS43--Bridged Dilanthanide Complexes

We report the synthesis and characterization of the trinuclear 4d-4f compounds [Co(C5Me5)(2)] [(C5Me5)(2)Ln(mu-S)(2)Mo(mu-S)(2)Ln(C5Me5)(2)], 1-Ln (Ln = Y, Gd, Tb, Dy), containing the highly polarizable MoS 4 3- bridging unit. UV-Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectra and DFT calculations of 1-Ln reveal a low-energy metal-to-metal charge transfer transition assigned to charge transfer from the singly occupied 4dz orbital of Mo-V to the empty 5d orbitals of the lanthanides (4d in the case of 1-Y), mediated by sulfur-based 3p orbitals. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra collected for 1-Y in a tetrahydrofuran solution show large Y-89 hyperfine coupling constants of A(perpendicular to) = 23 MHz and A(parallel to) = 26 MHz, indicating the presence of significant yttrium-localized unpaired electron density. Magnetic susceptibility data support similar electron delocalization and ferromagnetic Ln-Mo exchange for 1-Gd, 1-Tb, and 1-Dy. This ferromagnetic exchange gives rise to an S = 15/2 ground state for 1-Gd and one of the largest magnetic exchange constants involving Gd-III observed to date, with J(Gd-Mo) = +16.1(2) cm(-1). Additional characterization of 1-Tb and 1-Dy by ac magnetic susceptibility measurements reveals that both compounds exhibit slow magnetic relaxation. Although a Raman magnetic relaxation process is dominant for both 1-Tb and 1-Dy, an extracted thermal relaxation barrier of U-eff = 68 cm(-1) for 1-Dy is the largest yet reported for a complex containing a paramagnetic 4d metal center. Together, these results provide a potentially generalizable route to enhanced nd-4f magnetic exchange, revealing opportunities for the design of new nd-4f single-molecule magnets and bulk magnetic materials.

Automated summary

Researchers have synthesized and characterized a series of trinuclear 4d-4f compounds with highly polarizable MoS 4 3- bridging units. The compounds exhibit specific metal-to-metal charge transfer properties, significant unpaired electron density, and ferromagnetic exchange behavior, providing a potential route for the design of new nd-4f single-molecule magnets and bulk magnetic materials.