Single-crystal magnetic susceptibility and specific heat studies of the one-dimensional copper complex [PM·Cu(NO3)2·(H2O)2]n (PM = pyrimidine) show that it behaves like a uniform S = 1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain, characterized by the exchange parameter J/kB = 36 K. Specific heat measurements in the applied magnetic field, however, reveal the formation of a field-induced spin excitation gap, whose magnitude depends on the magnitude and direction of the field. This behaviour is inconsistent with the ideal S = 1/2 Heisenberg chain. In the low-temperature region, a contribution to the susceptibility, approximately proportional to 1/T, is observed which varies strongly with the varying direction of the magnetic field. The field-induced gap and the 1/T contribution are largest for the same field direction. Previous observations of a field-induced gap in the related compounds copper benzoate and Yb4As3 have been explained by the alternating g tensor and alternating Dzyaloshinkii-Moriya interaction, producing an effective staggered magnetic field at the Cu and Yb ions. We apply this model to [PM·Cu(NO3)2·(H2O)2]n and obtain a consistent quantitative explanation of the low-temperature susceptibility, the field-induced gap and their dependence on the magnetic-field direction.

A metal-radical polymer [Co(hfac)2.BPNN] showed a very large coercive field of 52 kOe (4.1 MA m-1) at 6 K, indicating that it is the hardest magnet ever reported. Above 10 K, a soft character appeared, owing to the fast dynamics of magnetization reorientation.

Lanthanide ions are supposed to be promising candidates for the elements of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) because of the large magnetic momentum and anisotropy. We have established the [Dy2Cu] complex as a new SMM. A plausible mechanism for quantum tunneling of magnetization is proposed for the first time among the 4f-3d heterometallic SMMs. The magnetic coupling parameter between Dy and Cu ions was well-defined as -0.155 K.