Singlet-triplet gap in triplet ground-state biradicals is modulated by substituent effects

Three S = 1 bis(semiquinone) complexes have been prepared. To ensure ferromagnetic intramolecular exchange coupling, the two semiquinones are attached 1,3 to a 5-substituted phenylene ring. The biradical complexes differ in their meta-substituents: 1-NMe(2)(), X = N,N-dimethylamino; 1-t-Bu, X = tert-butyl; 1-NO(2)(), X = nitro. All three structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Results of structural studies indicate that the biradical ligands of all three complexes have nearly identical conformations with average semiquinone ring torsions of 32 degrees +/- 2 degrees relative to the 5-substituted phenylene ring. The exchange parameter, J (Eta = -2JS(1).S(2)), ranges from +31.0 +/- 0.6 cm(-)(1) for 1-NO(2)() to +59.3 +/- 1.2 cm(-)(1) for 1-t-Bu, with J = +34.9 +/- 0.7 cm(-)(1) for 1-NMe(2)(). Since the conformations are nearly identical, the differences in exchange coupling parameter J are due to substituent effects. The experimental results are supported by Hückel theory arguments and previous computational work.