Two-Dimensional Nitronyl Nitroxide–Cu Networks Based on Multi-Dentate Nitronyl Nitroxides: Structures and Magnetic Properties

Two multi-dentate nitronyl nitroxide radicals, namely, bisNITPhPy ([5-(4-pyridyl)-1,3-bis(1′-oxyl-3′-oxido-4′,4′,5′,5′-tetramethyl-4,5-hydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)]benzene) and NIT-3Py-5-4Py (2-{3-[5-(4-pyridyl)]pyridyl}-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide), were assembled with CuII ions to obtain two-dimensional heterospin 2p–3d coordination polymers [Cu7(hfac)14(bisNITPhPy)2]n (1) and [Cu2(hfac)4(NIT-3Py-5-4Py)]n (2) (hfac: hexafluoroacetylacetonate). In both compounds, the bisNITPhPy and NIT-3Py-5-3Py radicals acted as pentadentate and tetradentate ligands, respectively, to connect with CuII ions, generating a 2D layer structure. The analysis of the magnetic behavior indicated that strong antiferromagnetic coupling and ferromagnetic interaction (J = 17.1 cm−1) coexisted in 1. For 2, there were ferromagnetic couplings between the CuII ion and NO group, as well as the CuII ion and radical via the pyridine ring with J1 = 32.8 and J2 = 2.2 cm−1, respectively.

Assembly of Imidazolyl-Substituted Nitronyl Nitroxides into Ferromagnetically Coupled Chains

New nitronyl nitroxides, namely, 2-(4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl)- and 2-(4,5-dichloroimidazol-2-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-3-oxide-1-oxyl, were prepared in crystalline form. According to single-crystal X-ray data, intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds are formed between NH groups of the imidazole cycles and O atoms of the nitroxide moieties. The intermolecular H-bonds contribute to the alignment of molecules into chains along the a-axis; this alignment causes short intrachain contacts between O and C atoms carrying spin density of opposite signs. Such an arrangement of nitroxides induces ferromagnetic intrachain interactions (J ≈ 10 cm−1) between neighboring radicals.

Slow relaxation of magnetization in unprecedented Cu–Ln-Rad hetero-tri-spin chains constructed from multidentate nitronyl nitroxide

Unprecedented Cu–Ln heterometallic chains derived from poly-dentate nitronyl nitroxides are reported. A Tb complex shows slow magnetic relaxation, while a Dy derivative displays interesting two-step relaxations of magnetization.

A Crystallographic Study of a Novel Tetrazolyl-Substituted Nitronyl Nitroxide Radical

Spin-labelled compounds are widely used in chemistry, physics, biology, and material sciences, but the directed synthesis of some functionalized organic radicals is still a challenge. We succeeded in the preparation of a tetrazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxide radical in pure crystalline form. According to the single-crystal X-ray data, intra- (NH…O, 2.43 Å) and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds (NH…O, 1.91 Å) are formed between NH groups of the tetrazole cycles and O atoms of the paramagnetic moieties. The intermolecular H-bonds connect the molecules forming chains along the a-axis. Moreover, there are short intermolecular contacts between the O atoms (3.096 Å) and between the O and C atoms (3.096 Å) of the nitronyl nitroxide moieties within the chain. The spin-unrestricted broken-symmetry calculations performed at the BS-UB3LYP/def2-TZVP level of theory predicted a sufficient ferromagnetic interaction (J ≈ 20 cm–1) between the adjacent radicals inside the chain, but a weak antiferromagnetic interaction (−J ≤0.2 cm−1) between the nearest radicals belonging to the different chains. Thus, a rare case when stable radicals, the tetrazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides, are ordered into ferromagnetic chains was revealed; an investigation of the magneto-structural correlations inherent in the nitroxide radical will demand a special experiment in the sub-Kelvin regime.