Mononuclear Single-Molecule Magnets: Tailoring the\nMagnetic Anisotropy of First-Row Transition-Metal Complexes

Abstract

Magnetic anisotropy is the property\nthat confers to the spin a\npreferred direction that could be not aligned with an external magnetic\nfield. Molecules that exhibit a high degree of magnetic anisotropy\ncan behave as individual nanomagnets in the absence of a magnetic\nfield, due to their predisposition to maintain their inherent spin\ndirection. Until now, it has proved very hard to predict magnetic\nanisotropy, and as a consequence, most synthetic work has been based\non serendipitous processes in the search for large magnetic anisotropy\nsystems. The present work shows how the property can be predicted\nbased on the coordination numbers and electronic structures of paramagnetic\ncenters. Using these indicators, two Co^II complexes known\nfrom literature have been magnetically characterized and confirm the\npredicted single-molecule magnet behavior.