Molecular multifunctionality preservation upon surface deposition for a chiral single-molecule magnet

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of a chiral, enneanuclear Mn(iii)-based, Single-Molecule Magnet, [Mn₉O₄(Me-sao)₆(L)₃(MeO)₃(MeOH)₃]Cl (<b>1</b>; Me-saoH₂ = methylsalicylaldoxime, HL = lipoic acid) is reported. Compound <b>1</b> crystallizes in the orthorhombic <i>P</i>2₁2₁2₁ space group and consists of a metallic skeleton describing a defect super-tetrahedron missing one vertex. The chirality of the [Mn^III ₉] core originates from the directional bridging of the Me-sao^2- ligands <i>via</i> the -N-O- oximate moieties, which define a clockwise (<b>1ΔΔ</b>) or counter-clockwise (<b>1ΛΛ</b>) rotation in both the upper [Mn^III ₃] and lower [Mn^III ₆] subunits. Structural integrity and retention of chirality upon dissolution and upon deposition on (a) gold nanoparticles, <b>1@AuNPs</b>, (b) transparent Au(111) surfaces, <b>1ΛΛ@<i>t</i>-Au(111)</b>; <b>1ΔΔ@<i>t</i>-Au(111)</b>, and (c) epitaxial Au(111) on mica surfaces, <b>1@<i>e</i>-Au(111)</b>, was confirmed by CD and IR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, TEM, XPS, XAS, and AFM. Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements demonstrate the simultaneous retention of SMM behaviour and optical activity, from the solid state, <i>via</i> dissolution, to the surface deposited species.