A rational approach to modulating easy-axis magnetic anisotropy by varying the axial donor ligand in heptacoordinated FeII complexes has been explored. In this series of complexes with formulae of [Fe(H4 L)(NCS)2 ]⋅3 DMF⋅0.5 H2 O (1), [Fe(H4 L)(NCSe)2 ]⋅3 DMF⋅0.5 H2 O (2), and [Fe(H4 L)(NCNCN)2 ]⋅DMF⋅H2 O (3) [H4 L=2,2'-{pyridine-2,6-diylbis(ethan-1-yl-1-ylidene)}bis(N-phenylhydrazinecarboxamide)], the axial positions are successively occupied by different nitrogen-based π-donor ligands. Detailed dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal the existence of easy-axis magnetic anisotropy for all of the complexes, with 1 [Ueff =21 K, τ0 =1.72×10-6 s] and 2 [Ueff =25 K, τ0 =2.25×10-6 s] showing field-induced slow magnetic relaxation behavior. However, both experimental studies and theoretical calculations indicate the magnitude of the D value of complex 3 to be larger than those of complexes 1 and 2 due to the axial bond angle being smaller than that for an ideal geometry. Detailed analysis of the field and temperature dependences of relaxation time for 1 and 2 has revealed that multiple relaxation processes (quantum tunneling of magnetization, direct, and Raman) are involved in slow magnetic relaxation for both of these complexes. Magnetic dilution experiments support the role of intermolecular short contacts.
Keywords: ab initio calculations; easy-axis anisotropy; magnetic properties; single-ion magnets; weak pi interactions.
© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.