Effect of diamagnetic Zn(II) ions on the SMM properties of a series of trinuclear ZnDy and tetranuclear ZnDy (Ln = Dy, Tb, Gd) complexes: combined experimental and theoretical studies.

To study the effect of diamagnetic ions on magnetic interactions, utilizing a compartmental ligand ()-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methyl-6-((quinolin-8-ylimino)methyl)phenol (LH), two different series of Zn-Ln complexes, namely the trinuclear series of [DyZn(L)(μ-OAc)(CHOH)]·NO·MeOH (1), [TbZn(L)(μ-OAc)(CHOH)]·NO·5MeOH·HO (2), and [GdZn(L)(μ-OAc)(CHOH)]·NO·MeOH·CHCl (3) and the tetranuclear series of [DyZn(LH)(NO)(μOAc)]·NO·MeOH·HO (4), [TbZn(LH)(NO)(μ-OAc)]·NO·MeOH·2HO (5), and [GdZn(LH)(NO)(μ-OAc)]·NO·MeOH·2HO (6), were synthesized. Trinuclear Zn-Ln complexes 1-3 consist of one Ln ion sandwiched between two peripheral Zn ions forming a bent type Zn-Dy-Zn array with an angle of 110.64°. Tetranuclear Zn-Ln complexes 4-6 are basically a combination of two dinuclear moieties of [LnZn(LH)(NO)] connected by one bidentate bridging acetate ion in μ-OAc coordination mode. The detailed magnetic analysis reveals that complexes 1 and 4 are single molecule magnets having energy barriers of 34.98 K and 46.71 K with relaxation times () of 5.05 × 10 s and 5.24 × 10 s, respectively. calculations were employed to analyze the magnetic anisotropy and magnetic exchange interaction between the Zn and Ln centers with the aim of gaining better insights into the magnetic dynamics of complexes 1-6.