Switching off the single-molecule magnet properties of the [Co II (Me 6 tren)(OH 2 )] 2+ module by complexation with trans -[Ru III (salen)(CN) 2 ]

The trinuclear complex [{Co II (Me 6 tren)} 2 (μ-NC) 2 Ru III (salen)](NO 3 ) 3 ·3CH 3 CN·H 2 O ( 2 ) (salen = N , N ′-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato); Me 6 tren = tris((dimethylamino)ethyl)amine) was synthesized by the reaction of trans -(PPh 4 )[Ru III (salen)(CN) 2 ] and two equivalents of [Co II (Me 6 tren)(OH 2 )](NO 3 ) 2 ( 1 ). Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 reveal its single-molecule magnet behaviour whilst 2 shows no appreciable slow dynamics of the magnetization even under an applied dc field. A comparison of the electrochemical properties of complex 2 with the trans -(PPh 4 )[Ru III (salen)(CN) 2 ] precursor reveals anodic shifts of the reduction and oxidation waves. The absorption spectrum of 2 obtained from surface optical reflectivity methods is also reported and discussed.