Switching nuclearity and Co(ii) content through stoichiometry adjustment: {CoII6CoIII3} and {CoIICo4III} mixed valent complexes and a study of their magnetic properties

Abstract

We are reporting two new mixed valent Co(II)/Co(III) polynuclear complexes, {Co^II₆Co^III₃} and {Co^IICo^III₄}, bearing different amount of Co(II) ions in their cores, through the employment of the multidentate triethanolamine (teaH₃) ligand in different stoichiometric ratios. We present a complete picture of the magnetic behaviour of both complexes through a combined usage of the susceptibility, magnetization and X-band EPR data as well as broken-symmetry DFT calculations. Compound 1 shows an atypical spin-only behaviour, probably due to the presence of four and five coordinated Co(II) sites as well as highly distorted six coordinated Co(II) ions, promoting a high degree of orbital contribution quenching. Through the usage of a simplified exchange coupling scheme and relying on DFT based magneto-structural correlation we have been able to explain the observed diamagnetic ground state. Concerning compound 2, DC magnetic data supported by X-band EPR measurements suggest the existence of anisotropy with a zero-field splitting parameter D, at least in the range of 2–10 cm⁻¹. In agreement with this description, a slow relaxation of magnetization is observed after applying a small external magnetic field, under AC measurements. Field and temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation time establishes a thermal barrier for magnetization reversal of about 25 cm⁻¹, which is in good agreement with the energy splitting of the |±1/2〉 and |±3/2〉 doublets established from static magnetic measurements.