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The monomer [Ce(COT) 2 ] - and the dimer [Ce 2 (COT) 3 ], with Ce(III) and COT = 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraenide, are studied by quantum chemistry calculations. Due to the large spin-orbit coupling, the ground state of the monomer is a strong mixing of σ and π states. The experimental isotropic coupling in the dimer was evaluated by Walter et al. to be J = -7 cm -1 (with a Heisenberg Hamiltonian [Formula: see text]) with a small anisotropic coupling of 0.02 cm -1 . The coupling between the two Ce(III) in the dimer is calculated using CI methods. The low energy part of the spectra are modeled by spin Hamiltonians. All spin Hamiltonians parameters are deduced from ab initio calculations. g factors are calculated for both the pseudodoublet of the monomer and the pseudotriplet of the dimer and their sign have been determined. The magnetic coupling in the dimer is rationalized by a model based on crystal field theory. The kinetic and exchange contributions arising from the different configurations to the isotropic and anisotropic couplings are evaluated. It is shown that the main contribution to isotropic coupling is kinetic and originates from the f σ -f σ interaction due to the large transfer integral between those orbitals. However, the f π -f π interaction plays a non-negligible role. The anisotropic coupling originates from the difference of exchange energy of states arising from the f σ f π configuration and is, in no matter, related to the anisotropy of the local magnetic moments as already pointed by van Vleck for a fictitious s-p system. The analysis of the natural orbitals evidences a superexchange mechanism through a σ CH * orbital of the bridging cycle favored by a local 4f σ /5d σ hybridization and that the δ type orbitals, both the HOMOs of the ligands and the virtual f δ orbitals of the cerium atoms play an important polarization role, and to a less extend the π type orbitals, the HOMOs-1 of the ligands, and the metal f π orbitals.

The flexibility of first-principles (ab initio) calculations with the SO-CASSCF (complete active space self-consistent field theory with a treatment of the spin-orbit (SO) coupling by state interaction) method is used to quantify the electrostatic and covalent contributions to crystal field parameters. Two types of systems are chosen for illustration: 1) The ionic and experimentally well-characterized PrCl 3 crystal; this study permits a revisitation of the partition of contributions proposed in the early days of crystal field theory; and 2) a series of sandwich molecules [Ln(η n -C n H n ) 2 ] q , with Ln=Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm and n=5, 6, and 8, in which the interaction between Ln III and the aromatic ligands is more difficult to describe within an electrostatic approach. It is shown that a model with three layers of charges reproduces the electrostatic field generated by the ligands and that the covalency plays a qualitative role. The one-electron character of crystal field theory is discussed and shown to be valuable, although it is not completely quantitative. This permits a reduction of the many-electron problem to a discussion of the energy of the seven 4f orbitals., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We present a combined ab initio theoretical and experimental study of the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum of the octahedral UCl 6 - complex ion in the UV-Vis spectral region. The ground state is an orbitally non-degenerate doublet E 5/2u and the MCD is a -term spectrum caused by spin-orbit coupling. Calculations of the electronic spectrum at various levels of theory indicate that differential dynamic electron correlation has a strong influence on the energies of the dipole-allowed transitions and the envelope of the MCD spectrum. The experimentally observed bands are assigned to dipole-allowed ligand-to-metal charge transfer into the 5f shell, and 5f to 6d transitions. Charge transfer excitations into the U 6d shell appear at much higher energies. The MCD-allowed transitions can be assigned via their signs of the -terms: Under O h double group symmetry, E 5/2u → E 5/2g transitions have negative -terms whereas E 5/2u → F 3/2g transitions have positive -terms if the ground state g-factor is negative, as it is the case for UCl 6 - .

The magnetic properties of actinide(IV) (An(IV)) cations are investigated in various solutions (HClO 4 , HCl, and HNO 3 ) by the Evans NMR method. The magnetic susceptibilities measured in noncomplexing medium are compared with the previous studies, and the influence of the medium is verified with new measurements in complexing solutions. To rationalize these results, spin-orbit complete active space perturbation theory at second order calculations are performed on the free ions and on the aquo complexes to determine the nature of electronic states, the magnetic susceptibility, and the UV-visible-near-IR spectra. The different factors contributing to the An(IV) magnetic properties were identified. The ligand field effect on the magnetic behavior (Curie constant and temperature-independent susceptibilities) was analyzed by considering different solvation environments. These results indicate a significant effect of the zero-field splitting of the ground J manifold on the An(IV) magnetic susceptibility.

By using complementary experimental techniques and first-principles theoretical calculations, magnetic anisotropy in a series of five hexacoordinated nickel(II) complexes possessing a symmetry close to C 2v , has been investigated. Four complexes have the general formula [Ni(bpy)X 2 ] n+ (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine; X 2 =bpy (1), (NCS - ) 2 (2), C 2 O 4 2- (3), NO 3 - (4)). In the fifth complex, [Ni(HIM 2 -py) 2 (NO 3 )] + (5; HIM 2 -py=2-(2-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolyl-1-hydroxy), which was reported previously, the two bpy bidentate ligands were replaced by HIM 2 -py. Analysis of the high-field, high-frequency electronic paramagnetic resonance (HF-HFEPR) spectra and magnetization data leads to the determination of the spin Hamiltonian parameters. The D parameter, corresponding to the axial magnetic anisotropy, was negative (Ising type) for the five compounds and ranged from -1 to -10 cm -1 . First-principles SO-CASPT2 calculations have been performed to estimate these parameters and rationalize the experimental values. From calculations, the easy axis of magnetization is in two different directions for complexes 2 and 3, on one hand, and 4 and 5, on the other hand. A new method is proposed to calculate the g tensor for systems with S=1. The spin Hamiltonian parameters (D (axial), E (rhombic), and g i ) are rationalized in terms of ordering of the 3 d orbitals. According to this orbital model, it can be shown that 1) the large magnetic anisotropy of 4 and 5 arises from splitting of the e g -like orbitals and is due to the difference in the σ-donor strength of NO 3 - and bpy or HIM 2 -py, whereas the difference in anisotropy between the two compounds is due to splitting of the t 2g -like orbitals; and 2) the anisotropy of complexes 1-3 arises from the small splitting of the t 2g -like orbitals. The direction of the anisotropy axis can be rationalized by the proposed orbital model., (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

In a previous paper, the influence of radioactive decay (α and β(-)) on magnetic susceptibility measurements by the Evans method has been demonstrated by the study of two americium isotopes. To characterize more accurately this phenomenon and particularly its influence on the Curie law, a new study has been performed on two uranium isotopes ((238)U and (233)U) and on tritiated water ((3)H2O). The results on the influence of α emissions have established a relationship between changes in the temperature dependence and the radioactivity in solution. Regarding the β(-) emissions, less influence was observed while no temperature dependence linked to this kind of radioactive emission could be identified. Once magnetic susceptibility measurements of actinide(iii) cations were corrected from radioactivity effects, methods of quantum chemistry have been used on free ions and aquo complexes to calculate the electronic structure explaining the magnetic properties of Pu(iii), Am(iii) and Cm(iii). The ligand field effect on the magnetic behavior (the Curie constant and temperature-independent susceptibilities) was analyzed by considering different solvation environments.

The electron densities associated with the Ln 4f shell, and spin and orbital magnetizations ('magnetic moment densities'), are investigated for the Ln(COT)2(-) series. The densities are obtained from ab-initio calculations including spin-orbit coupling. For Ln = Ce, Pr the magnetizations are also derived from crystal field models and shown to agree with the ab-initio results. Analysis of magnetizations from ab-initio calculations may be useful in assisting research on single molecule magnets.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C5SC01029B.].

We report here the synthesis and the investigation of the magnetic properties of a series of binuclear lanthanide complexes belonging to the metallacrown family. The isostructural complexes have a core structure with the general formula [Ga 4 Ln 2 (shi 3- ) 4 (Hshi 2- ) 2 (H 2 shi - ) 2 (C 5 H 5 N) 4 (CH 3 OH) x (H 2 O) x ]· x C 5 H 5 N· x CH 3 OH· x H 2 O (where H 3 shi = salicylhydroxamic acid and Ln = Gd III 1 ; Tb III 2 ; Dy III 3 ; Er III 4 ; Y III 5 ; Y III 0.9 Dy III 0.1 6 ). Apart from the Er-containing complex, all complexes exhibit an antiferromagnetic exchange coupling leading to a diamagnetic ground state. Magnetic studies, below 2 K, on a single crystal of 3 using a micro-squid array reveal an opening of the magnetic hysteresis cycle at zero field. The dynamic susceptibility studies of 3 and of the diluted DyY 6 complexes reveal the presence of two relaxation processes for 3 that are due to the excited ferromagnetic state and to the uncoupled Dy III ions. The antiferromagnetic coupling in 3 was shown to be mainly due to an exchange mechanism, which accounts for about 2/3 of the energy gap between the antiferro- and the ferromagnetic states. The overlap integrals between the Natural Spin Orbitals (NSOs) of the mononuclear fragments, which are related to the magnitude of the antiferromagnetic exchange, are one order of magnitude larger for the Dy 2 than for the Er 2 complex.

Electronic structures and magnetic properties of actinyl ions AnO2(n+) (An = U, Np, and Pu) and the equatorially coordinated carbonate complexes [UO2(CO3)3](5–), [NpO2(CO3)3](4–), and [PuO2(CO3)3](4–) are investigated by ab initio quantum chemical calculations. The complex [PuO2(NO3)3](−) is also included because of experimentally available g-factors and for comparison with a previous study of [NpO2(NO3)3](−) (Chem.—Eur. J. 2014, 20, 7994-8011). The results are rationalized with the help of crystal-field (CF)-type models with parameters extracted from the ab initio calculations, and with the help of natural orbitals and natural spin orbitals contributing to the magnetic properties and the unpaired spin distribution, generated from the spin–orbit wave functions. These orbitals resemble textbooklike representations of the actinide 5f orbitals. Calculated paramagnetic susceptibilities are used to estimate dipolar 13C chemical shifts for the carbonate ligands. Their signs and order of magnitude are compared to paramagnetic effects observed experimentally in NMR spectra. The results indicate that the experimental spectra are also influenced by contact shifts.

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of neptunyl(VI), NpO2(2+), and two neptunyl complexes, [NpO2(NO3)3](-) and [NpO2Cl4](2-), were studied with a combination of theoretical methods: ab initio relativistic wavefunction methods and density functional theory (DFT), as well as crystal-field (CF) models with parameters extracted from the ab initio calculations. Natural orbitals for electron density and spin magnetization from wavefunctions including spin-orbit coupling were employed to analyze the connection between the electronic structure and magnetic properties, and to link the results from CF models to the ab initio data. Free complex ions and systems embedded in a crystal environment were studied. Of prime interest were the electron paramagnetic resonance g-factors and their relation to the complex geometry, ligand coordination, and nature of the nonbonding 5f orbitals. The g-factors were calculated for the ground and excited states. For [NpO2Cl4](2-), a strong influence of the environment of the complex on its magnetic behavior was demonstrated. Kohn-Sham DFT with standard functionals can produce reasonable g-factors as long as the calculation converges to a solution resembling the electronic state of interest. However, this is not always straightforward., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We investigate and compare the magnetic properties of two isostructural Dy(III)-containing complexes. The Dy(III) ions are chelated by hexadentate ligands and possess two apical bidendate nitrate anions. In dysprosium(III) N,N'-bis(imine-2-yl)methylene-1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane (1), the ligand's donor atoms are two alkoxo, two pyridine, and two imine nitrogen atoms. Dysprosium(III) N,N'-bis(amine-2-yl)methylene-1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane (2) is identical with 1 except for one modification: the two imine groups have been replaced by amine groups. This change has a minute effect on the structure and a larger effect the magnetic behavior. The two complexes possess slow relaxation of the magnetization in the presence of an applied field of 1000 Oe but with a larger barrier for reorientation of the magnetization for 1 (Ueff/kB = 50 K) than for 2 (Ueff/kB = 34 K). First-principles calculations using the spin-orbit complete active-space self-consistent-field method were performed and allowed to fit the experimental magnetization data. The calculations gave the energy spectrum of the 2J + 1 sublevels issued from the J = 15/2 free-ion ground state. The lowest-lying sublevels were found to have a large contribution of MJ = ±15/2 for 1, while for 2, MJ = ±13/2 was dominant. The observed differences were attributed to a synergistic effect between the electron density of the ligand and the small structural changes provoked by a slight alteration of the coordination environment. It was observed that the stronger ligand field (imine) resulted in complex 1 with a larger energy barrier for reorientation of the magnetization than 2.

The iodouranium(III) complex with two hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate ligands is shown to adopt three closely related forms in the solid state. In addition to the previously reported structure for [U(Tp(Me2))2I], in which one of the pyrazolyl rings coordinates side-on to the U atom, another structure incorporating solvent molecules presents undistorted pyrazol rings, and a third one is the ionic compound [U(Tp(Me2))2]I. The implications of this structural diversity for the recently reported single ion magnet behaviour in this complex are discussed, namely on the basis of quantum chemistry calculations. The main effect of the bonding of the iodine atom to uranium is the increase of the size of the first coordination sphere and lowering of the symmetry of the molecule, resulting in a smaller crystal field splitting.

[U(Tp(Me2))(2)I] exhibits at low temperatures single molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour comparable to its bipyridine derivative and related single ion U(III) complexes recently reported as SMMs. The trend of variation of the energy barrier for the magnetic relaxation in these compounds is well reproduced by quantum chemistry calculations.

The large antiferromagnetic coupling in the Mn(IV)-Mn(IV) bond in the Li(6)Ca(2)[Mn(2)N(6)] and Li(6)Sr(2)[Mn(2)N(6)] crystals (J = -739 and -478 cm(-1), respectively, with H = -JS(A)·S(B)) is studied using different theoretical methods: solid-state density functional theory calculations, molecular density functional theory, and post-Hartree-Fock calculations with large embeddings. This magnetic coupling is a challenge for theoretical methods because both correlation and polarization effects are crucial for the correct description of the bond. All methods predict a large antiferromagnetic coupling, but none of the considered methods give a quantitative agreement with the experimental values. The molecular methods, except B3LYP and CASPT2, underestimate the coupling for the calcium compound, while they overestimate it in the strontium compound, within 30%. These methods, on the other hand, strongly underestimate the decrease of the coupling between the two compounds, with the most correlated one predicting the same value for both compounds. The solid-state method overestimates the coupling within 60% but reproduces better their ratio. Analysis of the calculations shows that the magnetic coupling between the local π orbitals is not caused by a direct interaction but by the spin-polarized σ bond.

The triiodide ion I(3)(-) exhibits a complex photodissociation behavior, the dynamics of which are not yet fully understood. As a first step toward determining the full potential energy surfaces of this species for subsequent simulations of its dissociation processes, we investigate the performance of different electronic structure methods [time-dependent density functional theory, complete active space perturbation theory to second order (CASPT2), Fock-space coupled cluster and multireference configuration interaction] in describing the ground and excited states of the triiodide ion along the symmetrical dissociation path. All methods apart from CASPT2 include scalar relativity and spin-orbit coupling in the orbital optimization, providing useful benchmark data for the more common two-step approaches in which spin-orbit coupling is introduced in the configuration interaction. Time-dependent density functional theory with the statistical averaging of model orbital potential functional is off the mark for this system. Another choice of functional may improve performance with respect to vertical excitation energies and spectroscopic constants, but all functionals are likely to face instability problems away from the equilibrium region. The Fock-space coupled cluster method was shown to perform clearly best in regions not too far from equilibrium but is plagued by convergence problems toward the dissociation limit due to intruder states. CASPT2 shows good performance at significantly lower computational cost, but is quite sensitive to symmetry breaking. We furthermore observe spikes in the CASPT2 potential curves away from equilibrium, signaling intruder state problems that we were unable to curb through the use of level shifts. Multireference configuration interaction is, in principle, a viable option, but its computational cost in the present case prohibits use other than for benchmarking purposes.

The ground and first excited states of PaX(6)(2-) (X=F,Cl,Br,I), UX(6)(-) (X=F,Cl,Br) and NpF(6) are calculated using the spin-orbit complete active space perturbation theory at second order method and the g-factors are deduced. The isotropic g-matrix is built from first principles, and the g-factors are found to be negative. Results are analyzed in the frame of crystal field theory. It is shown that it is more appropriate to consider the spin-orbit coupling before the crystal field interaction and that g-factors are principally governed by the metal-ligand distance. The complexes of the series with the longest bond length, even with a high covalent character, exhibit g-factors close to the free ion value.

The ground and excited states of the AmO(2) (+), AmO(2) (2+), and AmO(2) (3+) ions have been studied using the four-component configuration interaction singles doubles, spin-orbit complete active space self-consistent field, and spin-orbit complete active space-order perturbation theory methods. The roles of scalar relativistic effects and spin-orbit coupling are analyzed; results with different methods are carefully compared by a precise analysis of the wave functions. A molecular spinor diagram is used in relation to the four-component calculations while a ligand field model is used for the two-step method. States with the same number of electrons in the four nonbonding orbitals are in very good agreement with the two methods while ligand field and charge transfer states do not have the same excitation energies.

The Creutz-Taube complex [(NH3)5-Ru-pyrazine-Ru-(NH3)5]5+ is studied using wave function-based methods, namely the CASSCF/MS-CASPT2 method. Spin-orbit effects have been calculated with the SO-RASSI program. The nature of the ground state is analyzed, and all the excited states up to 50,000 cm(-1) are calculated. They form a quasi continuum from 25,000 cm(-1), theoretical bands are assigned to UV-visible spectra, and MCD bands are assigned by calculating transition moments from first principles for both spectroscopies. g-Factors are calculated from first principles and modeled by a model Hamiltonian: they compare well to experimental values and are shown to be the same as in the monomeric species.

Starting from the formula proposed by Gerloch and McMeeking in 1975, the electronic g-matrix is expressed as a sum of two matrices called Lambda and Sigma describing the orbital and spin contributions respectively. This approach is applied on benchmark diatomic and triatomic molecules, and on TiF3 and Cu(NH3)4(2+) using either CASPT2 or CCSD(T) methods to calculate the spin-free states and SO-RASSI to calculate spin-orbit coupling. Results compare very well to experimental data and to previous theoretical work; and, for each molecule, the anisotropy of the g-matrix is modeled by the mean of a few parameters.

The aim of this work is to characterize the complexation ability of F-, BF4-, PF6-, and Tf2N- toward uranyl ions in aqueous solution. These anions were chosen as they represent the anionic part of the most studied room-temperature ionic liquids. Time-resolved emission spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were used to retrieve structural data on the complexes formed. The results obtained were compared with computational data. Tf2N- does not complex uranyl, even at high concentration. Other fluorinated acids form inner-sphere complexes with U(VI), in a monodentate fashion in the case of BF4- and PF6-.

Transition metal complexes of 6-aminomethyl-bis[methyl-2-(4,5-dihydro-4,4,5,5- tetramethylimidazolinyl-3-oxide-l-oxy)]-2,2'-bipyridine, bpyN(NIT)(2), 1, have been synthesized and characterized by FAB-MS, UV-vis, FT-IR, and EPR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, and susceptibility measurements. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies have been performed on all compounds giving the following crystal data: bpyN(NIT)(2), 1, triclinic, P(-)1, Z = 2, a = 10.7224(4) A, b = 11.0995(4) A, c = 13.1134(3) A, alpha = 114.101(9) degrees, beta = 97.476(9) degrees, gamma = 99.667(9) degrees; ZnbpyN(NIT)(2), 2, hexagonal, P3(2), Z = 3, a = 15.4545(3) A, b = 15.4545(3) A, c = 13.5594(3) A; NibpyN(NIT)(2), 3, hexagonal, P3(2), Z = 3, a = 15.2867(1) A, b = 15.2867(1) A, c = 13.7160(1) A; CubpyN(NIT)(2), 4, triclinic, P(-)l, Z = 2, a = 11.8640(4) A, b = 13.2023(4) A, c = 13.2661(5) A, alpha = 90.539(9) degrees, beta = 104.983(9) degrees, gamma = 113.252(9) degrees. The two radicals of the free ligand 1 are almost perpendicular to one another in the solid state, favoring a weak ferromagnetic interaction (J/k(B) = 8.8 K). The complexes obtained by wrapping the ligand around a single metal center gave rise to two different coordination schemes where the two radicals of 1 adopt a ON(3)O meridional (with Ni and Zn) or a ON(3)O facial conformation (with Cu), which strongly affects the magnetic and electronic properties (O accounts for the coordinated oxygen atoms of the nitroxide radicals and N(3) accounts for the tertiary amine). For 2, a model of a dimer has been used giving rise to a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the radicals (J/k(B) = -5.3 K). For 3, a very strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling has been found and estimated at J/k(B) = -230 K and J'/k(B) = -110 K between the nickel and each radical using an asymmetric model of a trimer. For 4, an unusual magnetic behavior is observed, dominated by antiferromagnetic interactions with a residual plateau at chiT = 0.63 emu.K.mol(-)(1). Molecular modeling at the CASSCF level is in keeping with an antiferromagnetic coupling of the radical bound with the Cu(II) in the equatorial position. The combined structural, electronic, and magnetic characteristics suggest that the use of a flexible molecule provide an additional approach for fine-tuning magnetic interactions.

The magnetic couplings between a Ni(II) center in an octahedral environment and two nitroxides in its coordination sphere are calculated by ab initio methods. The system is well described by a Heisenberg model. Fully variational calculations (DDCI2) give results similar to those of combined variational/perturbative calculations (CASPT2), and some DFT results are obtained. The effect of some structural parameters is studied: the cis and trans positions and the angles and the distances of the nitroxides with respect to the nickel center. We show that the magnetic couplings are almost the same in the cis and in the trans complexes; thus, the only relevant geometric parameters for ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic couplings are the orientations and the distances of the nitroxide ligands with respect to the Ni(II) center. Direct exchange between the magnetic centers is calculated: it depends neither on the angles nor on the cis or trans conformations, showing that the superexchange contribution is the only angle-dependent one.