Influence of lattice water molecules on the magnetization dynamics of binuclear dysprosium(iii) compounds: insights from magnetic and ab initio calculations

Lattice water effects on the structures and magnetic properties of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) have attracted considerable attention. Herein, we have successfully synthesized two centrosymmetric binuclear compounds [Dy2(2,30-ppcad)2(C2H(3)O(2))4(H2O)(2)] (1) and [Dy2(2,30-ppcad)2(C2H(3)O(2))4(H2O)2] 6H2O ( 2) (2,30-Hppcad = N3-(2-pyrazinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamidrazone) by elaborately varying the amount of the base (LiOHH2O). Through isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), the interactions between DyIII ions and 2,30-Hppcad with different amounts of LiOHH2O were monitored in real time. Magnetic studies reveal that two compounds exhibit the typical zero-field single-molecule magnet behavior with different energy barrier (Ueff) values of 103.43 K for 1 and 386.48 K for 2, wherein the SMM performance for 2 stands out among the reported nine-coordinated Dy2-SMMs systems with spherical capped square antiprism (C4v) geometries. To rationalize the observed difference in the magnetic properties of 1 and 2, ab initio calculations have been performed. The introduction of lattice water molecules leads to differences in the J values observed for 1 and 2. The stronger antiferromagnetic DyIII-DyIII couplings in 2 were presented and the fast quantum tunneling of magnetization was further suppressed, thereby achieving a higher Ueff value. This work provides an effective strategy to enhance the SMM performance, and combines with ab initio calculations to explain how lattice water molecules can affect the magnetic interactions of Dy2-SMMs.