Effect of Ligand Deprotonation on the Spin Transition in Fe(II) Complexes.

The effect of deprotonation of the ligands forming the second coordination sphere of the iron(II) ion on its spin crossover behavior is examined. Due to the pronounced changes in the observed magnetic characteristics of the iron(II) ion, the proton removal from the ligand in the second coordination sphere is modeled by the appearance of a negative charge on one of the neutral nitrogens in the nearest surrounding of the metal ion, thus significantly changing the crystal field acting on this ion and, respectively, the conditions for observation of the spin transition. Different symmetries of the nearest nitrogen surrounding of the iron(II) ion and different locations of the negative charge in this surrounding are examined in the frames of the crystal field model.

Modeling of the Charge-Transfer-Induced Spin Transition in the Tetranuclear Cyanide-Bridged [CoFe] Complex.

The course of the charge-transfer-induced spin transition demonstrated by the cyanide-bridged tetranuclear [CoFe(bpy*)(CN)(tp*)](PF)·2CP·8BN complex has been followed by DFT calculations of the single-point energies for different total spin values of the complex in a wide temperature range. With the aid of these calculations, the picture of spin conversion, that the compound undergoes, has been restored. It has been demonstrated that at 100 K the two crystallographically unique tetranuclear FeCo subunits A and B present in the structure contain diamagnetic low-spin Fe and low-spin Co ions.

Modeling of Spin Crossover in Linear Trinuclear Complexes: Effects of External Pressure.

In the present study, a model is suggested to explain the course of spin transformation in crystals containing linear trinuclear iron(II) clusters as structural units. The energy spectrum of an isolated trimer is described with due allowance of the effects of the cubic crystal field formed by the nearest surrounding of each Fe ion as well as by consideration of intracluster interactions in the nearest neighbor approximation. The intercluster cooperative interaction promoting the spin transition is assumed to arise from the coupling of molecular modes with phonons, that is, a feature characteristic for molecular crystals containing as a structural element single spin-crossover ions or complexes formed by these ions.

Valence tautomeric transformation in the [CrCo] compound: exploration of cooperative interactions.

A crystal containing the heterometallic Cr-ligand-Co cluster with an unpaired electron on the ligand as a structural unit is examined. The developed model which describes the magnetic and polarizability characteristics of this crystal takes into account that the electron residing on the ligand can be transferred to the Co-ion, thus converting the diamagnetic ls-Co ion into the paramagnetic hs-Co one. Since this transformation is accompanied by electron density redistribution and elongation of the Co-N bond lengths, the vibronic interaction of the Co-ion with totally symmetric displacements of the nearest surroundings and cooperative dipole-dipole and electron-deformational interactions are accounted for as well.

Tetranuclear {CoCo}, Octanuclear {CoCo}, and Hexanuclear {CoDy} Pivalate Clusters: Synthesis, Magnetic Characterization, and Theoretical Modeling.

New tetranuclear and octanuclear mixed-valent cobalt(II/III) pivalate clusters, namely, [NaCo(OCCMe)(HOCCMe)(teaH)(N)]·2HO (in two polymorphic modifications, 1 and 1a) and [Co(OCCMe)(teaH)(N)](MeCCO)·MeCN·HO (2) have been synthesized by ultrasonic treatment of a dinuclear cobalt(II) pivalate precursor with sodium azide and triethanolamine (teaH) ligand in acetonitrile. The use of Dy(NO)·6HO in a similar reaction led to the precipitation of a tetranuclear [NaCo(OCCMe)(teaH)(N)(NO)(HO)]·HO (3) cluster and a heterometallic hexanuclear [CoDy(OH)(OCCMe)(teaH)(HO)](NO)·HO (4) cluster. Single-crystal X-ray analysis showed that 1 (1a) and 3 consist of a tetranuclear pivalate/teaH mixed-ligand cluster [CoCo(OCCMe)(teaH)(N)] decorated with sodium pivalates [Na(OCCMe)(HOCCMe)] (1 or 1a) or sodium nitrates [Na(NO)] (3) to form a square-pyramidal assembly.

Iridates from the molecular side.

New exotic phenomena have recently been discovered in oxides of paramagnetic Ir(4+) ions, widely known as 'iridates'. Their remarkable properties originate from concerted effects of the crystal field, magnetic interactions and strong spin-orbit coupling, characteristic of 5d metal ions. Despite numerous experimental reports, the electronic structure of these materials is still challenging to elucidate, and not attainable in the isolated, but chemically inaccessible, [IrO6](8-) species (the simplest molecular analogue of the elementary {IrO6}(8-) fragment present in all iridates).

Microscopic theory of cooperative spin crossover: Interaction of molecular modes with phonons.

In this article, we present a new microscopic theoretical approach to the description of spin crossover in molecular crystals. The spin crossover crystals under consideration are composed of molecular fragments formed by the spin-crossover metal ion and its nearest ligand surrounding and exhibiting well defined localized (molecular) vibrations. As distinguished from the previous models of this phenomenon, the developed approach takes into account the interaction of spin-crossover ions not only with the phonons but also a strong coupling of the electronic shells with molecular modes.

Strong Direct Magnetic Coupling in a Dinuclear Co(II) Tetrazine Radical Single-Molecule Magnet.

The ligand-centered radical complex [(CoTPMA)2 -μ-bmtz(.-) ](O3 SCF3 )3 ⋅CH3 CN (bmtz=3,6-bis(2'-pyrimidyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine, TPMA=tris-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) has been synthesized from the neutral bmtz precursor. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies have confirmed the presence of the ligand-centered radical.

Charge-transfer-induced spin transitions in crystals containing cyanide-bridged Co-Fe clusters: role of intra- and intercluster interactions.

A theoretical model has been developed to explain at the electronic level the charge-transfer-induced spin transition (CTIST) in crystals based on cyano-bridged binuclear Fe-Co clusters. The CTIST is considered as a cooperative phenomenon (phase transformation) driven by the long-range electron-deformational interaction via the acoustic phonons field that is taken into account within the mean field approach. The model for CTIST includes also the metal-metal electron transfer and intracluster magnetic exchange.

A model of spin crossover in manganese(III) compounds: effects of intra- and intercenter interactions.

A microscopic approach to the problem of cooperative spin crossover in the [MnL2]NO3 crystal, which contains Mn(III) ions as structural units, is elaborated on, and the main mechanisms governing this effect are revealed. The proposed model also takes into account the splitting of the low-spin 3T1 (t(2)(4)) and high-spin 5E (t(2)(3)e) terms by the low-symmetry crystal field. The low-spin → high-spin transition has been considered as a cooperative phenomenon driven by interaction of the electronic shells of the Mn(III) ions with the all-around full-symmetric deformation that is extended over the crystal lattice via the acoustic phonon field.

Cation ordering in natural and synthetic (Cu(1-x)Zn(x))(2)CO(3)(OH)(2) and (Cu(1-x)Zn(x))(5)(CO(3))(2)(OH)(6).

In the present paper we report combined experimental and theoretical studies of the UV-vis-NIR spectra of the mineral compounds malachite, rosasite, and aurichalcite and of the precursor compounds for Cu/ZnO catalysts. For the copper species in the minerals the crystal field splitting and the vibronic coupling constants are estimated using the exchange charge model of the crystal field accounting for the exchange and covalence effects. On this basis the transitions responsible for the formation of the optical bands arising from the copper centers in minerals are determined and the profiles of the absorption bands corresponding to these centers are calculated.

Redox properties of manganese-containing zirconia solid solution catalysts analyzed by in situ UV-vis spectroscopy and crystal field theory.

The optical absorption spectra of manganese-promoted sulfated zirconia, a highly active alkane isomerization catalyst, were found to be characterized by oxygen-to-manganese charge-transfer transitions at 300-320 nm and d-d transitions of manganese ions at 580 and 680 nm. The latter were attributed to Mn(4+) and Mn(3+) ions, which are known to be incorporated in the zirconia lattice. The oxygen surroundings of these ions were modeled assuming a substitutional solid solution.

Beyond the spin model: exchange coupling in molecular magnets with unquenched orbital angular momenta.

In this critical review we review the problem of exchange interactions in polynuclear metal complexes involving orbitally degenerate metal ions. The key feature of these systems is that, in general, they carry an unquenched orbital angular momentum that manifests itself in all their magnetic properties. Thus, interest in degenerate systems involves fundamental problems related to basic models in magnetism.

Spectroscopic characterization of Ti-doped α-ZnAl2S4 spinel-type single crystals.

The spectroscopic characteristics of the α-ZnAl(2)S(4) wide bandgap semiconductor doped with Ti ions are investigated. It is shown, that the ZnAl(2)S(4):Ti spinel-type crystals exhibit luminescence in the IR spectral range 0.8-1.

Enhancing the blocking temperature in single-molecule magnets by incorporating 3d-5d exchange interactions.

We report the first single-molecule magnet (SMM) to incorporate the [Os(CN)(6)](3-) moiety. The compound (1) has a trimeric, cyanide-bridged Mn(III)-Os(III)-Mn(III) skeleton in which Mn(III) designates a [Mn(5-Brsalen)(MeOH)](+) unit (5-Brsalen=N,N'-ethylenebis(5-bromosalicylideneiminato)). X-ray crystallographic experiments reveal that 1 is isostructural with the Mn(III)-Fe(III)-Mn(III) analogue (2).

Highly anisotropic exchange interactions in a trigonal bipyramidal cyanide-bridged Ni(II)3Os(III)2 cluster.

This article is a part of our efforts to control the magnetic anisotropy in cyanide-based exchange-coupled systems with the eventual goal to obtain single-molecule magnets with higher blocking temperatures. We give the theoretical interpretation of the magnetic properties of the new pentanuclear complex {[Ni(II)(tmphen)(2)](3)[Os(III)(CN)(6)](2)} x 6 CH(3)CN (Ni(II)(3)Os(III)(2) cluster). Because the system contains the heavy Os(III) ions, spin-orbit coupling considerably exceeds the contributions from the low-symmetry crystal field and exchange coupling.

Single-ion anisotropy and exchange interactions in the cyano-bridged trimers MnIII2MIII(CN)6 (MIII = Co, Cr, Fe) species incorporating [Mn(5-Brsalen)]+ units: an inelastic neutron scattering and magnetic susceptibility study.

The electronic structures of the compounds K[(5-Brsalen)(2)(H(2)O)(2)-Mn(2)M(III)(CN)(6)].2H(2)O (M(III) = Co(III), Cr(III), Fe(III)) have been determined by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and magnetic susceptibility studies, revealing the manganese(III) single-ion anisotropy and exchange interactions that define the low-lying states of the Mn-M(III)-Mn trimeric units. Despite the presence of an antiferromagnetic intertrimer interaction, the experimental evidence supports the classification of both the Cr(III) and Fe(III) compounds as single-molecule magnets.

A highly anisotropic cobalt(II)-based single-chain magnet: exploration of spin canting in an antiferromagnetic array.

In this article we report for the first time experimental details concerning the synthesis and full characterization (including the single-crystal X-ray structure) of the spin-canted zigzag-chain compound [Co(H2L)(H2O)]infinity [L = 4-Me-C6H4-CH2N(CPO3H2)2], which contains antiferromagnetically coupled, highly magnetically anisotropic Co(II) ions with unquenched orbital angular momenta, and we also propose a new model to explain the single-chain magnet behavior of this compound. The model takes into account (1) the tetragonal crystal field and the spin-orbit interaction acting on each Co(II) ion, (2) the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange between neighboring Co(II) ions, and (3) the tilting of the tetragonal axes of the neighboring Co units in the zigzag structure. We show that the tilting of the anisotropy axes gives rise to spin canting and consequently to a nonvanishing magnetization for the compound.

Origin of the single chain magnet behavior of the Co(H2L)(H2O) compound with a 1D structure.

The paper is aimed at the elucidation of the main factors responsible for the single-chain magnet behavior of the cobalt(II) disphosphonate compound Co(H2L)(H2O) with a 1D structure. The model takes into account the spin-orbit interaction, the axial component of the octahedral crystal field acting on the ground-state cubic 4T1 terms of the Co(II) ions, the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between Co(II) ions as well as the difference in the crystallographic positions of these ions. The conditions that favor the single-chain magnet behavior based on spin canting in a 1D chain containing inequivalent Co(II) centers are discussed.

Highly anisotropic orbitally dependent superexchange in cyano-bridged clusters containing Mn(III) and Mn(II) ions.

We study the orbitally dependent magnetic exchange in cyanide-based clusters as a source of the barrier for reversal magnetization. We consider the Mn(III)-CN-Mn(II) dimer and linear Mn(II)-NC-Mn(III)-CN-Mn(II) trimer containing octahedrally coordinated Mn(III) and Mn(II) ions with special emphasis on the magnetic manifestations of the orbital degeneracy of the Mn(III) ion. The kinetic exchange mechanism involves the electron transfer from the single occupied t(2) orbitals of the Mn(II) ion [6A1(t2(3)e2) ground state] to the singly occupied t(2) orbitals of the Mn(III) ion [3T1(t2(4)) ground state] resulting in the charge-transfer 5T2(t2(2)e2)Mn(III) - 2T2(t2(5))Mn(II) state of the pair.

Control of the Barrier in Cyanide Based Single Molecule Magnets Mn(III)2Mn(II)3: Theoretical Analysis.

The aim of this communication is to probe the possibility of increasing the barrier for reversal of magnetization in the family of new cyano-bridged pentanuclear Mn(III)2Mn(II)3 clusters in which single molecule magnet behavior has been recently discovered. In this context, we analyze the global magnetic anisotropy arising from the unquenched orbital angular momenta of ground terms (3)T1(t2(4)) of the two apical Mn(III) ions. The model takes into account the trigonal component of the crystal field, spin-orbit interaction in (3)T1(t2(4)), and an isotropic exchange interaction between Mn(III) and Mn(II) ions.

Role of the orbitally degenerate Mn(III) ions in the single-molecule magnet behavior of the cyanide cluster ([MnII(tmphen)2]3[Mn(III)(CN)6]2) (tmphen = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline).

We report a new theoretical model that accounts for the unusual magnetic properties of the cyanide cluster ([MnII(tmphen)2]3[MnIII(CN)6]2) (tmphen = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline). The model takes into account (1) the spin-orbit interaction, (2) the trigonal component of the crystal field acting on the ground-state cubic (3)T(1) terms of the apical Mn(III) ions, and (3) the isotropic contribution to the exchange interaction between Mn(III) and Mn(II) ions. The ground state of the cluster was shown to be the state with the total angular momentum projection |M(J)| = 15/2; the energies of the low-lying levels obtained from this treatment increase with decreasing |M(J)| values, a situation that leads to a barrier for the reversal of magnetization (U(eff) approximately 30 cm(-1)).