Hydrogen-Bonded Framework of a Cobalt(II) Complex Showing Superior Stability and Field-Induced Slow Magnetic Relaxation.

A unique hydrogen-bonded organic-inorganic framework (HOIF) constructed from a mononuclear cobalt(II) complex, [Co(MCA) 2 ·(H 2 O) 2 ] (HMCA = 4-imidazolecarboxylic acid), via multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions was synthesized and structurally characterized. The Co(II) center in the HOIF features a highly distorted octahedral coordination environment. Remarkably, the Co II HOIF showed permanent porosity with superior stability as established by combined thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), variable-temperature infrared spectra (IR), variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction data (PXRD), and a CO 2 isotherm. Structural studies reveal that short multiple hydrogen bonds should be responsible for the superior thermal and chemical stability of a HIOF. Magnetic investigations reveal the large easy-plane magnetic anisotropy of the Co 2+ ions with the fitted D values being 22.1 (magnetic susceptibility and magnetization data) and 29.1 cm -1 (reduced magnetization data). In addition, the HOIF exhibits field-induced slow magnetic relaxation at low temperature with an effective energy barrier of U eff = 45.2 cm -1 , indicative of a hydrogen-bonded framework single-ion magnet of the compound. The origin of the significant magnetic anisotropy of the complex was also understood from computational studies. In addition, BS-DFT calculations indicate that the superexchange interactions between the neighboring Co II ions are non-negligible antiferromagnetism with J Co-Co = -0.5 cm -1 . The foregoing results provide not only a carboxylate-imidazole ligand approach toward a stable HOIF but also a promising way to build a robust single-ion magnet via hydrogen-bond interactions.