Electronic Structure and Magneto-Structural Correlations Study of Cu₂UL Trinuclear Schiff Base Complexes: A 3d-5f-3d Case

The magnetic properties of trinuclear Schiff base complexes M2AnLi (MII = Zn, Cu; AnIV = Th, U; Li = Schiff base; i = 1-4, 6, 7, 9), exhibiting the [M(mu-O)2]2U core structure with adjacent M1 center dot center dot center dot U and M2 center dot center dot center dot U and next-adjacent M1 center dot center dot center dot M2 interactions, featuring 3d-5f-3d subsystems, have been investigated theoretically using relativistic ZORA/B3LYP computations com-bined with the broken symmetry (BS) approach. Bond order and natural population analyses reveal that the covalent contribution to the bonding within the Cu-O-U coordination is important thus favoring superexchange coupling between the transition metal and the uranium magnetic centers. The calculated coupling constants JCuU between the Cu and U atoms, agree with the observed shift from the antiferromagnetic (AF) character of the L1,2,3,4 complexes to the ferromagnetic (ferro) of the L6,7,9 ones. The structural parameters, i.e., the Cu center dot center dot center dot U distances and the Cu-O-U angles, as well as the electronic factors driving the magnetic couplings are discussed. The analyses are supported by the study of the mixed ZnCuULi and Cu2ThLi systems, where in the first complex the CuII(3d9) ion is replaced by the diamagnetic ZnII (3d10) one, whereas in the second complex the UIV (5f2) paramagnetic center is replaced by the diamagnetic ThIV (5f0) one.