Chiral biomolecule based dodecanuclear dysprosium(iii)–copper(ii) clusters: structural analyses and magnetic properties

Abstract

An isostructural family of three dodecanuclear chiral M₄Cu₈ (M = Dy, Y) complexes has been synthesized by adopting a mixed-ligand strategy, wherein one of the constituent linkers, pyroglutamic acid, a recognized biomolecule, has been credibly functioning as the chiral precursor imparting the chirality to the aforementioned complex. The highly symmetric new-fangled M₄Cu₈ coordination-core, comprising of four square-symmetrically coordinated Dy/Y-vertex sharing M₂Cu₂ cubane units, has been synthesized as an unprecedented discrete coordination complex, which has been analysed by magnetic measurements.