Single-molecule magnet engineering: building-block approaches

TLDR

Single‑molecule magnets can be engineered by topologically controlling metal‑ion building blocks, a strategy more feasible in coordination chemistry than in bulk inorganic magnets, and predesigned molecular assemblies provide an elegant route to tailor their magnetic properties. This review examines how modular building blocks can be employed to design the structure and magnetic behavior of single‑molecule magnets. The article is published in the journal.

Abstract

Tailoring the specific magnetic properties of any material relies on the topological control of the constituent metal ion building blocks. Although this general approach does not seem to be easily applied to traditional inorganic bulk magnets, coordination chemistry offers a unique tool to delicately tune, for instance, the properties of molecules that behave as "magnets", the so-called single-molecule magnets (SMMs). Although many interesting SMMs have been prepared by a more or less serendipitous approach, the assembly of predesigned, isolatable molecular entities into higher nuclearity complexes constitutes an elegant and fascinating strategy. This Feature article focuses on the use of building blocks or modules (both terms being used indiscriminately) to direct the structure, and therefore also the magnetic properties, of metal ion complexes exhibiting SMM behaviour. This journal is