title: Molecular spin clusters: new synthetic approaches and neutron scattering studies.
abstract: We review our recent work in the field of molecular spin clusters and single-molecule magnets, showing how inelastic neutron scattering (INS) can be used to determine magnetic exchange interactions and anisotropy splittings. A general introduction to neutron scattering precedes selected examples, building upon the first determination of exchange coupling in a transition metal complex using INS, through anisotropic exchange in cobalt(II) spin clusters to the determination of exchange interactions in a dodecanuclear nickel(II) wheel. The strength of INS for the accurate determination of anisotropy splittings in single-molecule magnets is revealed. Not only can one determine the axial zero-field splitting parameter D, which plays a key role in single-molecule magnet behavior, but also higher-order terms important in understanding the quantum tunneling behavior. Finally, we review two of our synthetic approaches towards new single-molecule magnets based on nickel, manganese, and iron.
authors.affiliation: Departement für Chemie und Biochemie Universität Bern, Freiestrasse 3 3000 Bern 9, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basler
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boskovic
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chaboussant
authors.forename: Hans U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Güdel
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murrie
authors.forename: Stefan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ochsenbein
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sieber