Self-Assembly Synthesis of a [2]Catenane CoII Single-Molecule Magnet.

We describe herein the self-assembly synthesis of an octanuclear CoII [2]catenane {[Co4 (H2 L)6 ]2 16+ } formed by the mechanical interlocking of two {[Co4 (H2 L)6 ]8+ } rectangles of unprecedented topology. Subtle manipulation of the synthetic conditions allows the isolation of a mixed-valence [Co2 III /Co2 II ]10+ non-catenated rectangle. The CoII centers in the [2]catenane exhibit slow relaxation of their magnetic moment, i. e. single-molecule magnet properties, dominated by quantum tunneling and Raman relaxation processes. This work shows that metallo-supramolecular chemistry can precisely control the organization of single-molecule magnets in topologically complex arrangements.