Single-chain magnet behavior in 2p-3d-4f spin array with nitronyl nitroxide biradical

Three biradical-bridged heterometallic chains, [LnCu2(hfac)7(bisNITPhPy)]n (LnIII = Gd, 1; Tb, 2; Ho, 3), were synthesized by means of a nitronyl nitroxide biradical bisNITPhPy ([5-(4-pyridyl)-1,3-bis(1′-oxyl-3′-oxide-4′,4′,5′,5′-tetramethyl-4,5-hydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)]benzene; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate). In these structures, the bisNITPhPy biradical serves as a pentadentate ligand to hold one LnIII ion through two neighboring aminoxyl (NO) moieties in chelating mode, while other two NO groups are coordinated to Cu(hfac)2 units, leading to a 1D Cu–Ln-birad chain. An additional terminal Cu(hfac)2 unit linked to a pyridine-N atom is found at the periphery. The magnetic susceptibility data of compound Gd have been analyzed with a closed ring model comprising three [Cu–Rad–Gd–Rad] units, which indicates ferromagnetic Gd(III)–nitroxide and Cu(II)–axial nitroxide interactions. The Tb derivative was found to behave as a single chain magnet with an energy barrier for magnetization reversal of 26 K.