The first example of erbium triple-stranded helicates displaying SMM behaviour

Abstract

A series of isostructural C₃-symmetrical triple stranded dinuclear lanthanide [Ln₂L₃](NO₃)₃ molecules have been synthesized using subcomponent self-assembly of Ln(NO₃)₃ with 2-(methylhydrazino)benzimidazole and 4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenol, where Ln = Tb (1), Dy (2), Ho (3), Er (4), Tm (5), and Yb (6). The temperature dependent and field dependent magnetic properties of 1–6 were modeled using the van Vleck approximation including the crystal field term H_CF, the super-exchange term H_SE and the Zeeman term H_ZE. Ferromagnetic interactions were found in 1, 2, 4 and 6, while antiferromagnetic interactions were found in 3 and 5. The erbium analogue reveals field induced SMM behaviour.