Closing the Circle of the Lanthanide-Murexide Series: Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior and Near-Infrared Emission of the Nd^III Derivative

Up to now, even if murexide-based complexometric studies are performed with all 3d or 4f ions, the crystal structures of the light-lanthanide derivatives of the lanthanide-murexide series are unknown. In this work, we report the crystal structure of the Nd^III derivative named NdMurex. Contrary to all known complexes of the 3d or 4f series, a dimeric compound was obtained. As for its already reported Dy^III and Yb^III parents, the Nd^III complex responsible for the color-change behaves as a single-molecule magnet (SMM). This behavior was observed on both the crystalline (NdMurex: U_eff = 6.20(0.80) K, 4.31 cm⁻¹; τ₀ = 2.20(0.92) × 10⁻⁵ s, H_dc = 1200 Oe) and anhydrous form (NdMurexAnhy: U_eff = 6.25(0.90) K, 4.34 cm⁻¹; τ₀ = 4.85(0.40) × 10⁻⁵ s, H_dc = 1200 Oe). The SMM behavior is reported also for the anhydrous Ce^III derivative (CeMurexAnhy: U_eff = 5.40(0.75) K, 3.75 cm⁻¹; τ₀ = 3.02(1.10) × 10⁻⁵ s, H_dc = 400 Oe). The Near-Infrared Emission NIR emission was observed for NdMurexAnhy and highlights its bifunctionality. View Full-Text