Redox shield enfolding a magnetic core

Abstract

Ferrocenyl betadiketones were reacted with hydrated lanthanide trihalides in presence of a base to yield red color solids, whose structures were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Structural analysis revealed the formation of nona- and tetranuclear lanthanide oxo-hydroxo clusters [Dy9(μ4-O)2(μ3-OH)8(μ-Fca)8(Fca)8]-[HN(C2H5)3]+ (1), [Ln4(μ-OH)2(μ-OCH3)4(CH3OH)2(Fctfa)6] Ln = Yb (2), Lu (3), and [Ln4(μ-OH)2(μ-OCH3)4(CH3OH)2(Fcpfa)6] Ln = Yb (4), Lu (5). Magnetism studies revealed that 1 shows slow relaxation of magnetisation. Cyclic voltammetry studies of 1 reveal electrochemically stable quasi reversible oxidation systems whereas 2-5 showed irreversible nature.