Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior of Confined Dy(III) in a Mixed Heteroatom-Substituted Polyoxotungstate

Two heteroatom-templated Dy­(III)-confined polyoxotungstates [H2N­(CH3)2]7Na7[Dy2(H2O)7(W4O9)­(HPSeW15O54)­(α-SeW9O33)2]·31H2O (1) and [H2N­(CH3)2]14K2Na18{[Dy2(H2O)13W14O40]2[α-SeW9O33]4[HPSeW15O54]2}·44H2O (2) were synthesized by a one-pot aqueous reaction and structurally characterized. The most distinctive structural feature of complexes 1 & 2 is the simultaneous presence of both trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8– and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10– building blocks containing P­(III)–Se­(IV) heteroatoms. The trimeric polyanion of 1 can be represented as a fusion of two trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8– and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10– building units encapsulating the [Dy2(H2O)7(W4O9)]12+ cluster. On the other hand, hexameric polyoxoanions of 2 are described as four trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8– and two Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10–, building units anchoring a [Dy4(H2O)26W28O80]20+ cluster. The magnetic investigation revealed the presence of significant magnetic anisotropy and slow relaxation of magnetization behavior for complex 1 with a phenomenological energy barrier, U eff = 13.58 K in the absence of an external magnetic field, and U eff = 24.57 K in the presence of a 500 Oe external dc magnetic field. On the other hand, complex 2 favors the QTM relaxation process in the absence of an external magnetic field and shows field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization with U eff = 11.11 K at 1500 Oe applied dc field. The in-depth analysis of magnetic relaxation dynamics shows that the relaxation process follows the Orbach as well as Raman relaxation pathways. Further, the ab initio calculation of the studied complexes confirms that the highly axial ground and first excited energy states (containing pure highest mJ states) are responsible for the observed single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior. Remarkably, this is the first example of a mixed heteroatom-based Dy­(III)-substituted polyoxotungstate with both trimeric Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8– and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10– building units showing SMM behavior.