Rotaxane Co <sup>II</sup> Complexes as Field‐Induced Single‐Ion Magnets
Martina Cirulli, Enrico Salvadori, Zhi‐Hui Zhang, Michael Dommett, Floriana Tuna, Heiko Bamberger, James E. M. Lewis, Amanpreet Kaur, Graham J. Tizzard, Joris van Slageren, Rachel Crespo‐Otero, Stephen M. Goldup, Maxie M. Roessler
Abstract
Abstract Mechanically chelating ligands have untapped potential for the engineering of metal ion properties. Here we demonstrate this principle in the context of Co II ‐based single‐ion magnets. Using multi‐frequency EPR, susceptibility and magnetization measurements we found that these complexes show some of the highest zero field splittings reported for five‐coordinate Co II complexes to date. The predictable coordination behaviour of the interlocked ligands allowed the magnetic properties of their Co II complexes to be evaluated computationally a priori and our combined experimental and theoretical approach enabled us to rationalize the observed trends. The predictable magnetic behaviour of the rotaxane Co II complexes demonstrates that interlocked ligands offer a new strategy to design metal complexes with interesting functionality.