Evidence for zero-field slow magnetic relaxation in a Co(II) complex with a pseudo-tetrahedral N2I2 environment

Herein, we report on the synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of a four-coordinate mononuclear Co(II) diiodide complex with the 3,5-dimethylpyrazole ligand. A distorted tetrahedral local coordination environment around the central cobalt ion is formed by the two nitrogen atoms of two monodentate pyrazole ligands and by iodide ions. Direct current (dc) magnetic measurements in combination with ab initio SA-CASSCF/NEVPT2 quantum-chemical calculations revealed a strong easy-axis-type magnetic anisotropy with a record value D_exp = -30.58(3) cm^-1 of the axial zero field splitting parameter for pseudo-tetrahedral Co(II)-based CoL₂Hal₂ complexes. Moreover, it is the only complex in this series demonstrating the slow relaxation of magnetization at zero dc field. The Orbach process is shown to be the dominant mechanism of magnetic relaxations in the high temperature range, while the quantum tunneling of magnetization produces the leading contribution to the overall relaxation at temperatures below 4 K.

Field-induced single-ion magnet based on a quasi-octahedral Co(II) complex with mixed sulfur-oxygen coordination environment

Synthesis and characterization of structure and magnetic properties of the quasi-octahedral complex (pipH₂)[Co(TDA)₂] 2H₂O (I), (pipH₂²⁺ = piperazine dication, TDA^2- = thiodiacetic anion) are described. X-ray diffraction studies reveal the first coordination sphere of the Co(II) ion, consisting of two chelating tridentate TDA ligands with a mixed sulfur-oxygen strongly elongated octahedral coordination environment. SQUID magnetometry, frequency-domain Fourier-transform (FD-FT) THz-EPR spectroscopy, and high-level ab initio SA-CASSCF/NEVPT2 quantum chemical calculations reveal a strong "easy-plane" type magnetic anisotropy (D ≈ +54 cm^-1) of complex I. The complex shows field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization at an applied DC field of 1000 Oe.