No abstract

In this tutorial review we discuss some basic aspects concerning the magnetic properties of rare-earth ions, which are currently the subject of a renovated interest in the field of molecular magnetism, after the discovery that slow relaxation of the magnetization at liquid nitrogen temperature can occur in mononuclear complexes of these ions. Focusing on Dy(III) derivatives a tutorial discussion is given of the relation of the crystal field parameters, which determine the anisotropy of these systems and consequently their interesting magnetic properties, with the geometry of the coordination sphere around the lanthanide centre and with the pattern of f orbitals. The problem of systems of low point symmetry is also addressed by showing how detailed single crystal investigation, coupled to more sophisticated calculation procedures, is an absolute necessity to obtain meaningful structure-property relationships in these systems.

Dedicated to Professor Dante Gatteschi on the occasion of his 60th birthdayThe study of paramagnetic metal-ion aggregates has been of increasing interest since the observation that such molecules can exhibit magnetic memory effects. [1][2][3] Termed singlemolecule magnets or SMMs, the important factors leading to such properties derive from the combination of a large ground-state spin and a large magnetic anisotropy of the Ising (easy-axis) type. Studies have largely been based on transition-metal compounds since they typically exhibit both of the aforementioned features. The incorporation of lanthanides into these complexes has been investigated to take advantage of the potentially large number of unpaired f-electrons available. [4][5][6][7] However, very little work has been done to date on purely lanthanide-based systems. [8,9] The origin of SMM behavior in lanthanide-containing compounds is more complicated than that of d-block transition-metal ions since there is likely to be a significant orbital component. In the lanthanide-containing phthalocyanine complexes reported in the literature the ligand environment induces a large splitting of the ground J manifold, whereas in SMMs large-spin ground states arising from magnetic interactions between the metal centers of the cluster can enhance the weaker single-ion