Magnetic anisotropy and interaction between f-electronic systems in dinuclear inverted-sandwich-type lanthanide-phthalocyanine complexes

The first detection and characterization of magnetic interaction between two 4f electronic systems in the dinuclear "inverted-sandwich-type" phthalocyanine complex with terbium ions and that of dysprosium ions are presented. Temperature dependent magnetic measurements for the diterbium complex, (μ-phthalocyaninato)bis[di(2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionato)terbium], show that the value of magnetic susceptibility times temperature, χT, sharply decreases as temperature is lowered, indicating the presence of an antiferromagnetic-type interaction between the Tb 3+ ions in the dinuclear complex. Similar temperature dependence was observed for the corresponding dinuclear dysprosium complex. These results are completely opposite to those observed for Pc triple-decker dinuclear terbium or dysprosium complexes, which are known to function as single molecule magnets. The NMR signals for the protons on the Pc ligand of the diterbium complex show up-field paramagnetic shifts due to the partially-filled 4f shells of the metal ions. This again makes sharp contrast to the triple-deckers, for which large down-field paramagnetic shifts are observed. These intriguing results seen in the NMR and magnetic susceptibility measurements are explained assuming the ligand field potential of the inverted-sandwich complexes gives strong easy-plain-type magnetic anisotropy, where Jz value of the lowest sublevel has a small value, while sandwich-type Pc3Ln2 ( Ln = Tb or Dy ) complexes have a strong easy-axis-type magnetic anisotropy.