Mononuclear Lanthanide(III)-Salicylideneaniline Complexes: Synthetic, Structural, Spectroscopic, and Magnetic Studies

The reactions of hydrated lanthanide(III) [Ln(III)] nitrates and salicylideneaniline (salanH) have provided access to two families of mononuclear complexes depending on the reaction solvent used. In MeCN, the products are [Ln(NO3)(3)(salanH)(2)(H2O)]center dot MeCN, and, in MeOH, the products are [Ln(NO3)(3)(salanH)(2)(MeOH)]center dot(salanH). The complexes within each family are proven to be isomorphous. The structures of complexes [Ln(NO3)(3)(salanH)(2)(H2O)]center dot MeCN (Ln = Eu, 4 center dot MeCN_Eu, Ln = Dy, 7 center dot MeCN_Dy; Ln = Yb, 10 center dot MeCN_Yb) and [Ln(NO3)(3)(salanH)(2)(MeOH)]center dot(salanH) (Ln = Tb, 17_Tb; Ln = Dy, 18_Dy) have been solved by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In the five complexes, the Ln(III) center is bound to six oxygen atoms from the three bidentate chelating nitrato groups, two oxygen atoms from the two monodentate zwitterionic salanH ligands, and one oxygen atom from the coordinated H2O or MeOH group. The salanH ligands are mutually cis in 4 center dot MeCN_Eu, 7 center dot MeCN_Dy and 10 center dot MeCN_Yb while they are trans in 17_Tb and 18_Dy. The lattice salanH molecule in 17_Tb and 18_Dy is also in its zwitterionic form with the acidic H atom being clearly located on the imine nitrogen atom. The coordination polyhedra defined by the nine oxygen donor atoms can be described as spherical tricapped trigonal prisms in 4 center dot MeCN_Eu, 7 center dot MeCN_Dy, and 10 center dot MeCN_Yb and as spherical capped square antiprisms in 17_Tb and 18_Dy. Various intermolecular interactions build the crystal structures, which are completely different in the members of the two families. Solid-state IR data of the complexes are discussed in terms of their structural features. H-1 NMR data for the diamagnetic Y(III) complexes provide strong evidence that the compounds decompose in DMSO by releasing the coordinated salanH ligands. The solid complexes emit green light upon excitation at 360 nm (room temperature) or 405 nm (room temperature). The emission is ligand-based. The solid Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Er(III), and Yb(III) complexes of both families exhibit Ln(III)-centered emission in the near-IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum, but there is probably no efficient salanH -> Ln(III) energy transfer responsible for this emission. Detailed magnetic studies reveal that complexes 7 center dot MeCN_Dy, 17_Tb and 18_Dy show field-induced slow magnetic relaxation while complex [Tb(NO3)(3)(salanH)(2)(H2O)]center dot MeCN (6 center dot MeCN_Tb) does not display such properties. The values of the effective energy barrier for magnetization reversal are 13.1 cm(-1) for 7 center dot MeCN_Dy, 14.8 cm(-1) for 17_Tb, and 31.0 cm(-1) for 18_Dy. The enhanced/improved properties of 17_Tb and 18_Dy, compared to those of 6_Tb and 7_Dy, have been correlated with the different supramolecular structural features of the two families. The molecules [Ln(NO3)(3)(salanH)(2)(MeOH)] of complexes 17_Tb and 18_Dy are by far better isolated (allowing for better slow magnetic relaxation properties) than the molecules [Ln(NO3)(3)(salanH)(2)(H2O)] in 6 center dot MeCN_Tb and 7 center dot MeCN_Dy. The perspectives of the present initial studies in the Ln(III)/salanH chemistry are discussed.