Disklike hepta- and tridecanuclear cobalt clusters. Synthesis, structures, magnetic properties, and DFT calculations

The synthesis, structure and magnetic properties are reported of two disklike mixed-valence cobalt clusters [Co(III)Co(II)6(thmp)2(acac)6(ada)3] (1) and [Co(III)2Co(II)11(thmp)4(Me3CCOO)4(acac)6(OH)4(H2O)4](Me3CCOO)2·H2O (2). Heptanuclear complex 1 was prepared by solvothermal reaction of cobalt(II) acetylacetonate (Co(acac)2), 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)-propane (H3thmp), and adamantane-1-carboxylic acid (Hada), whereas by substituting Hada with Me3CCO2H, tridecanuclear complex 2 was obtained with an unexpected [Co(III)2Co(II)11] core. The core structures of 1 and 2 are related to each other: that of 1 arranges as a centered hexagon of a central Co(III) ion surrounded by a [Co(II)6] hexagon, while that of 2 can be described as a larger oligomer based on two vertex-sharing [Co(III)Co(II)6] clusters. Variable-temperature direct-current magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrated overall ferromagnetic coupling between the Co(II) ions within both clusters. The magnetic exchange (J) and magnetic anisotropy (D) values were quantified with appropriate spin-Hamiltonian models and were also supported by density functional theory calculations. The presence of frequency-dependent out-of-phase (χM″) alternating current susceptibility signals at temperatures below 3 K suggested that 2 might be a single-molecule magnet.