title: Single-molecule magnets: a family of MnIII/CeIV complexes with a [Mn8CeO8]12+ core.
abstract: Four heterometallic, enneanuclear Mn8Ce clusters [Mn8CeO8(O2CMe)12(H2O)4] (4), [Mn8CeO8(O2CMe)12(py)4] (5), [Mn8CeO8(O2CPh)12(MeCN)4] [Mn8CeO8(O2CPh)12(dioxane)4] (6), and [Mn8CeO8(O2CCHPh2)12(H2O)4] (7) have been prepared by various methods. Their cores are essentially isostructural and comprise a nonplanar, saddlelike [MnIII8O8]8+ loop containing a central CeIV ion attached to the eight micro3-O2- ions. Peripheral ligation around the [Mn8CeO8]12+ core is provided by eight micro- and four micro3-O2CR- groups. Terminal ligation on four MnIII atoms is provided by H2O in 4 and 7, pyridine in 5, and MeCN/dioxane in 6. Solid-state magnetic susceptibility studies, fits of dc magnetization vs field and temperature data, and in-phase ac susceptibility studies in a zero dc field have established that complexes 4, 5, and 7 possess S=16, S=4 or 5, and S=6+/-1 spin ground states, respectively, but in all cases there are very low-lying excited states. The large variation in the ground-state spins for this isostructural family is rationalized as due to a combination of weak exchange interactions between the constituent MnIII atoms, and the presence of both nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-interactions of comparable magnitudes. Magnetization vs applied dc field sweeps on single crystals of 4.4H2O and 7.4H2O.3MeCN.2CH2Cl2 down to 0.04 K have established that these two complexes are new single-molecule magnets (SMMs). The former also shows an exchange-bias, a perturbation of its single-molecule properties from very weak intermolecular interactions mediated by hydrogen-bonding interactions with lattice-water molecules of crystallization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, USA.
authors.forename: Abhudaya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Anastasios J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tasiopoulos
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wernsdorfer
authors.forename: Eleni E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Moushi
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zaworotko
authors.forename: Khalil A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christou