Single-Molecule Magnets Constructed from Cyanometalates:  {[Tp*Fe^III(CN)₃M^II(DMF)₄]₂[OTf]₂}·2DMF (M^II = Co, Ni)

Abstract

Treatment of several divalent transition-metal trifluoromethanesulfonates [M(II)(OTf)2; M(II) = Mn, Co, Ni] with [NEt4][Tp*Fe(III)(CN)3] [Tp* = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate] in DMF affords three isostructural rectangular clusters of {[Tp*Fe(III)(CN)3M(II)(DMF)4]2[OTf]2} x 2DMF (M(II) = Mn, 3; Co, 4; Ni, 5) stoichiometry. Magnetic studies of 3-5 indicate that the Tp*Fe(CN)3(-) centers are highly anisotropic and exhibit antiferromagnetic (3 and 4) and ferromagnetic (5) exchange to afford S = 4, 2, and 3 spin ground states, respectively. ac susceptibility measurements suggest that 4 and 5 exhibit incipient single-molecule magnetic behavior below 2 K.