Hard Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior by a Linear Trinuclear Lanthanide-[1]Metallocenophane Complex

A synthetic protocol was developed that involves the transmetalation of a mono-dysprosium [1]ferrocenophane complex with DyX3 (X = Cl- or I-) to afford [Dy(3)Fc(6)Li(2)(THF)(2)](-), featuring a rare linear arrangement of magnetically anisotropic Dy3+ ions. The close spatial inter-lanthanide proximity, in combination with mu(2)-bridging sp(2)-hybridized C-cp groups, enforces significant magnetic coupling and results in hard single molecule magnet (SMM) behavior, with an effective barrier to magnetization reversal of up to 268 cm(-1). Our results highlight the versatility of lanthanide metallocenophane architectures toward the development of novel multinuclear SMM frameworks.