Low‐Coordinate Single‐Ion Magnets by Intercalation of Lanthanides into a Phenol Matrix.

Abstract: It is very challenging to synthesize stable trivalent rare‐earth complexes in which the coordination number is lower than 3 for the high oxidation state, there is a large ion radius and nearly non‐bonding character of trivalent lanthanide ions. The bulky phenol ligand ArOH (Ar=2,6‐Dipp2C6H3, Dipp=2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) was utilized to construct low‐coordinate lanthanide compound [(ArO)Ln(OAr′)] (Ar′=6‐Dipp‐2‐(2′‐iPr‐6′‐CHMe(CH2−)C6H3)C6H3O−; Ln=Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm). These complexes and the free ligand ArOH were isostructural. Magnetic measurements and theoretical studies demonstrated that both the oblate‐type dysprosium and prolate‐type erbium analogues exhibited single‐ion magnet (SIM) behavior. The bulky phenol ligands provided strong uniaxial ligand field, making the dysprosium SIM possessing blocking barrier up to 961 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]