Two heads are better than one : improving magnetic relaxation in the dysprosium metallocene DyCp*₂BPh₄ upon dimerization by use of an exceptionally weakly-coordinating anion

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p>Partial metathesis between two weakly-coordinating anions in the archetypical dysprosium metallocene DyCp*₂BPh₄ results in the first example of [BPh₄]⁻ as a bridging ligand in 4f metals, with a unique η₂,η₂:η₂,η₂-bridge. Magnetic susceptibility and relaxation dynamics studies along with ab initio calculations reveal improved slow relaxation of the magnetization in [Dy₂Cp*₄(μ-BPh₄)][Al(OC(CF₃)₃)₄] over its mononuclear congener, resulting in an energy barrier of 490 K/340 cm⁻¹ and waist-restricted hysteresis up to 6.5 K.</p></div>