Coordination [CoII2] and [CoIIZnII] Helicates Showing Slow Magnetic Relaxation.

The slow magnetic relaxation of CoII ions in the elusive intermediate geometry between the trigonal prism and antiprism has been studied on the new [Co2L3]4+ and [CoZnL3]4+ coordination helicates [L is a bis(pyrazolylpyridine) ligand]. Solution paramagnetic 1H NMR and solid-state magnetization measurements unveil single-molecule-magnet behavior with small axial anisotropy, as predicted previously.