Chiral, Heterometallic Lanthanide–Transition Metal Complexes by Design
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inorganics Article Chiral, Heterometallic Lanthanide–Transition Metal Complexes by Design Anders Øwre 1, Morten Vinum 1, Michal Kern 2 ID , Joris van Slageren 2 ID , Jesper Bendix 1,* and Mauro Perfetti 1,* ID 1 Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Danmark; [email protected] (A.Ø.); [email protected] (M.V.) 2 Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany; [email protected] (M.K.); [email protected] (J.v.S.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (J.B.); [email protected] (M.P.) Received: 15 June 2018; Accepted: 17 July 2018; Published: 19 July 2018 Abstract: Achieving control over coordination geometries in lanthanide complexes remains a challenge to the coordination chemist. This is particularly the case in the field of molecule-based magnetism, where barriers for magnetic relaxation processes as well as tunneling pathways are strongly influenced by the lanthanide coordination geometry. Addressing the challenge of design of 4f-element coordination environments, the ubiquitous Ln(hfac)3 moieties have been shown to be applicable as Lewis acids coordinating transition metal acetylacetonates facially leading to simple, chiral lanthanide–transition metal heterodinuclear complexes. The broad scope of this approach 0 is illustrated by the synthesis of a range of such complexes LnM: LnM(hfac)3(µ2-acac-O,O,O )3 (Ln = La, Pr, Gd; M = Cr, Fe, Ga), with approximate three-fold symmetry. The complexes have been crystallographically characterized and exhibit polymorphism for some combinations of 4f and 3d metal centers. However, an isostructural set of systems spanning several lanthanides which exhibit spontaneous resolution in the orthorhombic Sohncke space group P212121 is presented here. The electronic structure and ensuing magnetic properties have been studied by EPR spectroscopy and magnetometry. The GdFe, PrFe, and PrCr complexes exhibit ferromagnetic coupling, while GdCr exhibits antiferromagnetic coupling. GdGa exhibits slow relaxation of the magnetization in applied static fields. Keywords: lanthanides; transition metals; anisotropy; magnetism; magnetic coupling; geometric design 1. Introduction Recent years have seen a revival of lanthanide coordination chemistry, partially fueled by their promising magnetic properties [1–3]. Thus, mononuclear lanthanide complexes, polynuclear lanthanide complexes, lanthanides coordinating organic radicals, and mixed 3d–4f metal complexes have all yielded single molecule magnets [2–6]. Among them, only few exhibit chirality [7–10]. In many regards, lanthanide-based systems outperform molecular magnets based on transition metals, but in the context of magnetic properties, the flexibility of the lanthanide ions concerning coordination numbers and coordination geometries complicates matters in more than one sense. Firstly, as the ligand field splitting in lanthanide complexes is energetically subordinate to the interelectronic repulsion and spin-orbit coupling, the coordination geometries and ensuing ligand fields become determining for the magnetic properties. Hence, tuning of magnetic properties requires a degree of tailoring the coordination environments, which is often difficult to realize for lanthanides. Secondly, the pliant geometries around lanthanide ions hamper the design of highly symmetrical systems, which can act as building blocks for extended structures since any symmetry imposed by multidentate ligands is easily Inorganics 2018, 6, 72; doi:10.3390/inorganics6030072 www.mdpi.com/journal/inorganics Inorganics 2018, 6, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 12 symmetrical systems, which can act as building blocks for extended structures since any symmetry imposedInorganics by 2018multidentate, 6, 72 ligands is easily broken. Thus, although crystallographically strictly2 of 12 axial, trigonal, and tetragonal [11–20] lanthanide complexes have been obtained by the use of structure-directingbroken. Thus, although ligands, crystallographically these systems typica strictlylly axial, feature trigonal, coordinatively and tetragonal saturated [11–20] lanthanide lanthanide centerscomplexes with haveno obvious been obtained avenues by the towards use of structure-directing extended structures ligands, thesewhich systems preserve typically the feature tailored symmetry.coordinatively Addressing saturated this challeng lanthanidee, centerswe forward with noa simple obvious route avenues towards towards heterobinuclear extended structures transition metal–lanthanidewhich preserve complexes the tailored with symmetry. near-axial Addressing symmetry. this challenge, we forward a simple route towards heterobinuclearThe hexafluoroacetylacetonate transition metal–lanthanide (hfac) complexes complexes of with the near-axialtrivalent symmetry.lanthanide ions are ubiquitous The hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac) complexes of the trivalent lanthanide ions are ubiquitous starting materials. While the homoleptic neutral entities Ln(hfac)3 are unknown in the condensed starting materials. While the homoleptic neutral entities Ln(hfac)3 are unknown in the condensed phase, phase, many neutral heteroleptic complexes Ln(hfac)3Ln with lanthanide coordination numbers many neutral heteroleptic complexes Ln(hfac) L with lanthanide coordination numbers ranging ranging from 7 to 10 [21–24] have been struct3 n urally characterized. Among these, eightfold from 7 to 10 [21–24] have been structurally characterized. Among these, eightfold coordination coordination dominates as exemplified by the aquo-complexes Ln(hfac)3(H2O)2 [25] (cf. Figure 1a). dominates as exemplified by the aquo-complexes Ln(hfac)3(H2O)2 [25] (cf. Figure1a). Indeed, the Indeed, the Lewis acidic fragment Ln(hfac)3 has been employed as a building block for several Lewis acidic fragment Ln(hfac)3 has been employed as a building block for several structures by structuresligation by of bidentateligation transitionof bidentate metal transition complexes creatingmetal complexes heterometallic creating bi- and heterometallic polynuclear systems bi- and polynuclearin a systematic systems fashion in a systematic [26,27] where fashion one [26,27] simple where system one is illustrated simple syst inem Figure is illustrated1b [ 28]. However, in Figure 1b [28]. toHowever, date, only to a singledate, exampleonly a single of a triply example bridged of systema triply based bridged on the system Ln(hfac) based3 fragment, on the namely Ln(hfac)3 0 fragment,CuLa( µ2namely-acac-O,O,O CuLa()2(µμ-H2-acac-O,O,O2O) (hfac)3 (acac′)2(μ-H = acetylacetonate),2O) (hfac)3 (acac entailing = acetylacetonate), nine-coordination ofentailing the 3+ nine-coordinationlarge La ion, hasof the been large reported La3+ ion, (cf. Figure has been1c) [ 29reported]. (cf. Figure 1c) [29]. Figure 1. Schematic structures of (a) the Ln(hfac)3(H2O)2 precursor; (b) Ln(hfac)3 ligated by bidentate Figure 1. Schematic structures of (a) the Ln(hfac)3(H2O)2 precursor; (b) Ln(hfac)3 ligated by bidentate Schiff-baseSchiff-base complexes complexes (M (M = Cu, = Cu, Ni); Ni); (c ()c the) the hitherto hitherto sole sole structurallystructurally characterized characterized example example of a of triply a triply bridgedbridged Ln(hfac) Ln(hfac)3—transitional3—transitional metal metal binuclear binuclear complex; complex; andand (d(d)) triple triple bridging bridging in homodinuclearin homodinuclear (hfac)(hfac)3Dy(3μDy(-PyO)µ-PyO)3Dy(hfac)3Dy(hfac)3. 3. CommonCommon to the to the previously previously studied studied systems systems is thethe geometricgeometric incompatibility incompatibility of theof the transition transition metalmetal and andthe lanthanide the lanthanide fragments, fragments, which which inevitably inevitably lowers lowers the overalloverall symmetry symmetry to toC 1C.1 Notable. Notable is also isthe also system the system [(NiL)Gd(hfac) [(NiL)Gd(hfac)2(EtOH)]2(EtOH)] (L (L = =μµ22-1,1,1-tris(-1,1,1-tris(N-salicylideneaminomethyl)ethane)-salicylideneaminomethyl)ethane) [30], [30], wherewhere the thetrifold trifold symmetric symmetric Schiff Schiff-base-base ligand ligand provides provides too muchtoo much steric encumbrancesteric encumbrance to preserve to threepreserve µ µ threehfac hfac ligands ligands on on the the lanthanide. lanthanide. Inspired Inspired by the by above-mentioned the above-mentioned CuLa( CuLa(-acac)2μ( -acac)-H2O)(hfac)2(μ-H23O)(hfac)and 3 by examples of triple bridging between two Ln(hfac) fragments in, e.g., (hfac) Ln(µ-PyO) Ln(hfac) and by examples of triple bridging between3 two Ln(hfac)3 3 fragments3 in, 3 e.g., (Ln = Eu, Dy; cf. Figure1d) [ 31], we decided to pursue the possibility of facial coordination of sterically (hfac)3Ln(μ-PyO)3Ln(hfac)3 (Ln = Eu, Dy; cf. Figure 1d) [31], we decided to pursue the possibility of undemanding, threefold symmetric transition metal complexes terminated in hard oxygen donor facial coordination of sterically undemanding, threefold symmetric transition metal complexes terminated in hard oxygen donor ligands to Ln(hfac)3 fragments aiming at threefold symmetric dinuclear systems. This approach necessitates the use of non-competing and hence weakly coordinating solvents, imposing some restrictions on the suitable transition metal building blocks. Inorganics 2018, 6, 72 3 of 12 Inorganics 2018, 6, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 12 ligands to Ln(hfac)3 fragments aiming at threefold symmetric dinuclear systems. This approach necessitates the use of non-competing and hence weakly coordinating solvents, imposing some Evidently,restrictions