Linear trinuclear cobalt(ii) single molecule magnet†
Abstract
The introduction of NaBPh4 into a methanolic solution of CoCl2·6H2O and 2-[(pyridine-2-ylimine)-methyl]phenol (Hpymp) afforded {[CoII3(pymp)4(MeOH)2][BPh4]2}·2MeOH (1) with a centro-symmetrically linear trinuclear structure. Magnetic analysis of 1 exhibited significant intracluster ferromagnetic exchange (2.4 cm−1) and slow relaxation of magnetization in both zero and non-zero static fields below 5 K, giving the first [CoII3] single molecule magnet with an effective energy barrier of 17.2(3) cm−1 under a 500 Oe dc field.