EPR spectra of and exchange interactions in trinuclear complexes. 3. Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the oxovanadium(IV) adduct of a tetradentate Schiff base copper(II) complex

Two Distinct Cu(II)-V(IV) Superexchange Interactions with Similar Bond Angles in a Triangular "CuV2" Fragment

The strength and sign of superexchange interactions are often predicted on the basis of the bond angles between magnetic ions, but complications may arise in situations with a nontrivial arrangement of the magnetic orbitals. We report on a novel molecular tetramer compound [Cu(H₂O)dmbpy]₂[V₂O₂F₈] (dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl) that is composed of triangular "CuV₂" fragments and displays a spin gap behavior. By combining first-principles calculations and electronic models, we reveal that superexchange Cu-V interactions carry drastically different coupling strengths along two Cu-F-V pathways with comparable bond angles in the triangular "CuV₂" fragment. Counterintuitively, their strong disparity is found to originate from the restricted symmetry of the half-filled Cu d_x²-y² orbital stabilized by the crystal field, leading to one dominating antiferromagnetic Cu-V coupling in each fragment. We revisit the magnetic properties of the reported spin-gapped chain compound [enH₂]Cu(H₂O)₂[V₂O₂F₈] (enH₂ = ethylene diammonium) containing similar triangular "CuV₂" fragments, and the magnetic behavior of the molecular tetramer and the chain compounds is rationalized as that of weakly coupled spin dimers and spin trimers, respectively. This work demonstrates that fundamentally different magnetic couplings can be observed between magnetic ions with similar bond angles in a single spin motif, thus providing a strategy to introduce various exchange interactions combined with low dimensionality in heterometallic Cu(II)-V(IV) compounds.

Spin-transition-like behavior on one side in a nitroxide-copper(II)-nitroxide triad system

The ground spin-state of [Cu(phpyNO)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](BF(4))(2) was switched between S(total) = 1/2 and 3/2 across 175 K. On warming, the space group was changed from P2(1)2(1)2(1) to C222(1) in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal manner, and the transient structure could be monitored by means of the crystallographic analysis. The copper-radical exchange coupling changed from 2J/k(B) = -463(3) to +312(6) K with rather small Cu-O-N-C(2py) twisting deformation on one side, while practically no distortion occurred on the other.

Electron delocalisation in a trinuclear copper(ii) complex: high-field EPR characterization and magnetic properties of Na3[Cu3(mal)3(H2O)]·8H2O

The complex Na3[Cu3(mal)3(H2O)] x 8H2O was obtained from evaporation of an aqueous solution containing Cu(OAc)2, malic acid (HO2CCH2CHOHCO2H) and NaOH and was characterised by X-ray diffraction on single crystal, X-band and high-field EPR spectroscopy (HF-EPR) and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The trinuclear complex [Cu3(mal)3(H2O)]3- is trapped in a three-dimensional network with sodium cations. The three copper atoms are connected by alkoxo bridges and form an almost isosceles triangle with Cu...Cu distances of 3.076(1), 3.504(1) and 3.513(1) A. Two of the copper ions are also bridged by an extra aquo ligand. EPR spectroscopy combined with magnetic susceptibility measurements provide a powerful tool to resolve the electronic structure of the complex. The overall magnetic behaviour corresponds to an antiferromagnetically coupled triangular system. The 285 GHz-EPR spectrum (g = 2; 10.18 T) is characteristic of a spin state S = 1/2, with a rhombic anisotropy of [g]. This rhombic pattern allows us to propose that the electronic spin density is delocalised on the three copper ions.

Tetranuclear and Pentanuclear Vanadium(IV/V) Carboxylate Complexes: [V(4)O(8)(NO(3))(O(2)CR)(4)](2-) and [V(5)O(9)X(O(2)CR)(4)](2-) (X = Cl(-), Br(-)) Salts

The syntheses and properties of tetra- and pentanuclear vanadium(IV,V) carboxylate complexes are reported. Reaction of (NBzEt(3))(2)[VOCl(4)] (1a) with NaO(2)CPh and atmospheric H(2)O/O(2) in MeCN leads to formation of (NBzEt(3))(2)[V(5)O(9)Cl(O(2)CPh)(4)] 4a; a similar reaction employing (NEt(4))(2)[VOCl(4)] (1b) gives (NEt(4))(2)[V(5)O(9)Cl(O(2)CPh)(4)] (4b). Complex 4a.MeCN crystallizes in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with the following unit cell dimensions at -148 degrees C: a = 13.863(13) Å, b = 34.009(43) Å, c = 12.773(11) Å, and Z = 4. The reaction between (NEt(4))(2)[VOBr(4)] (2a) and NaO(2)CPh under similar conditions gives (NEt(4))(2)[V(5)O(9)Br(O(2)CPh)(4)] (6a), and the use of (PPh(4))(2)[VOBr(4)] (2b) likewise gives (PPh(4))(2)[V(5)O(9)Br(O(2)CPh)(4)] (6b). Complex 6b crystallizes in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with the following unit cell dimensions at -139 degrees C: a = 18.638(3) Å, b = 23.557(4) Å, c = 12.731(2) Å, and Z = 4. The anions of 4a and 6b consist of a V(5) square pyramid with each vertical face bridged by a &mgr;(3)-O(2)(-) ion, the basal face bridged by a &mgr;(4)-X(-) (X = Cl, Br) ion, and a terminal, multiply-bonded O(2)(-) ion on each metal. The RCO(2)(-) groups bridge each basal edge to give C(4)(v)() virtual symmetry. The apical and basal metals are V(V) and V(IV), respectively (i.e., the anions are trapped-valence). The reaction of 1b with AgNO(3) and Na(tca) (tca = thiophene-2-carboxylate) in MeCN under anaerobic conditions gives (NEt(4))(2)[V(4)O(8)(NO(3))(tca)(4)] (7). Complex 7.H(2)O crystallizes in space group C2/c with the following unit cell dimensions at -170 degrees C: a = 23.606(4) Å, b = 15.211(3) Å, c = 23.999(5) Å, and Z = 4. The anion of 7 is similar to those of 4a and 6b except that the apical [VO] unit is absent, leaving a V(4) square unit, and the &mgr;(4)-X(-) ion is replaced with a &mgr;(4),eta(1)-NO(3)(-) ion. The four metal centers are now at the V(IV), 3V(V) oxidation level, but the structure indicates four equivalent V centers, suggesting an electronically delocalized system. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data were collected on powdered samples of 4b, 6a, and 7 in the 2.00-300 K range in a 10 kG applied field. 4b and 6a both show a slow increase in effective magnetic moment (&mgr;(eff)) from approximately 3.6-3.7 &mgr;(B) at 320 K to approximately 4.5-4.6 &mgr;(B) at 11.0 K and then a slight decrease to approximately 4.2 &mgr;(B) at 2.00 K. The data were fit to the theoretical expression for a V(IV)(4) square with two exchange parameters J = J(cis)() and J' = J(trans)() (H = -2JS(i)()S(j)()): fitting of the data gave, in the format 4b/6a, J= +39.7/+46.4 cm(-)(1), J' = -11.1/-18.2 cm(-)(1) and g = 1.83/1.90, with the complexes possessing S(T) = 2 ground states. The latter were confirmed by magnetization vs field studies in the 2.00-30.0 K and 0.500-50.0 kG ranges: fitting of the data gave S(T) = 2 and D = 0.00 cm(-)(1) for both complexes, where D is the axial zero-field splitting parameter. Complex 7 shows a nearly temperature-independent &mgr;(eff) (1.6-2.0 &mgr;(B)) consistent with a single d electron per V(4) unit. The (1)H NMR spectra of 4b and 6a in CD(3)CN are consistent with retention of their pentanuclear structure on dissolution. The EPR spectrum of 7 in a toluene/MeCN (1:2) solution at approximately 25 degrees C yields an isotropic signal with a 29-line hyperfine pattern assignable to hyperfine interactions with four equivalent I = (7)/(2) (51)V nuclei.