Field-induced slow magnetic relaxation in the first Dy(iii)-centered 12-metallacrown-4 double-decker

Abstract

The reaction of Dy(O₂CMe)₃·xH₂O and Ga(NO₃)₃·xH₂O led to the isolation of (ⁿBu₄N)[Ga^III₈Dy^III(OH)₄(shi)₈] (1). The compound possesses a unique chemical structure enclosing the central magnetic Dy^III ion between diamagnetic Ga^III-based metallacrown 12-MC-4 ligands. The double-decker complex exhibits field-induced single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour with an effective energy barrier (U_eff) of 39 K (27.1 cm⁻¹). Consistent with the observed slow relaxation of magnetization, theoretical calculations suggest a ground state mainly determined by |±11/2> in the easy axis direction.