title: New routes to polymetallic clusters: fluoride-based tri-, deca-, and hexaicosametallic MnIII clusters and their magnetic properties.
abstract: The syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of three new MnIII clusters, [Mn26O17(OH)8(OMe)4F10(bta)22(MeOH)14(H2O)2] (1), [Mn(0O6(OH)2(bta)8(py)8F8] (2) and [NHEt3]2[Mn3O(bta)6F3] (3), are reported (bta=anion of benzotriazole), thereby demonstrating the utility of MnF3 as a new synthon in Mn cluster chemistry. The "melt" reaction (100 degrees C) between MnF(3) and benzotriazole (btaH, C6H5N3) under an inert atmosphere, followed by dissolution in MeOH produces the cluster [Mn26O17(OH)8(OMe)4F10(bta)22(MeOH)14(H2O)2] (1) after two weeks. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1, and consists of a complicated array of metal tetrahedra linked by mu3-O2- ions, mu3- and mu2-OH- ions, mu2-MeO- ions and mu2-bta- ligands. The "simpler" reaction between MnF3 and btaH in boiling MeOH (50 degrees C) also produces complex 1. If this reaction is repeated in the presence of pyridine, the decametallic complex [Mn10O6(OH)2(bta)8(py)8F8] (2) is produced. Complex 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 and consists of a "supertetrahedral" [Mn(III)10] core bridged by six mu3-O2- ions, two mu3-OH- ions, four mu2-F- ions and eight mu2-bta- ions. The replacement of pyridine by triethylamine in the same reaction scheme produces the trimetallic species [NHEt3]2[Mn3O(bta)6F3] (3). Complex 3 crystallises in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c and has a structure analogous to that of the basic metal carboxylates of general formula [M3O(RCO2)6L3]0/+, which consists of an oxo-centred metal triangle with mu2-bta- ligands bridging each edge of the triangle and the fluoride ions acting as the terminal ligands. DC magnetic susceptibility measurements in the 300-1.8 K and 0.1-7 T ranges were investigated for all three complexes. For each, the value of chi(M)T decreases with decreasing temperatures; this indicates the presence of dominant antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in 1-3. For complex 1, the low-temperature value of chi(M)T is 10 cm(3) K mol(-1) and fitting of the magnetisation data gives S=4, g=2.0 and D=-0.90 cm(-1). For complex 2, the value of chi(M)T falls to a value of approximately 5.0 cm(3) K mol(-1) at 1.8 K, which is consistent with a small spin ground state. For the triangular complex 3, the best fit to the experimental chi(M)T versus T data was obtained for the following parameters: Ja = -5.01 cm(-1), Jb = +9.16 cm(-1) and g=2.00, resulting in an S=2 spin ground state. DFT calculations on 3, however, suggest an S=1 or S=0 ground state with J(a)=-2.95 cm(-1) and J(b)=-2.12 cm(-1). AC susceptibility measurements performed on 1 in the 1.8-4.00 K range show the presence of out-of-phase AC susceptibility signals, but no peaks. Low-temperature single-crystal studies performed on 1 on an array of micro-SQUIDS show the time- and temperature-dependent hysteresis loops indicative of single-molecule magnetism behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Leigh F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Gopalan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rajaraman
authors.forename: Jonathon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brockman
authors.forename: Muralee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murugesu
authors.forename: E Carolina
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Sanudo
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raftery
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Teat
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wernsdorfer
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.forename: Euan K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Brechin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Collison
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008280:Magnetics; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008345:Manganese; D005459:Fluorides