Organic magnetic diradicals (radical-coupler-radical): standardization of couplers for strong ferromagnetism

The intramolecular magnetic coupling constant (J) values of sets of diradicals linked to bis-DTDA, OVER, and NN radicals (DTDA, OVER, and NN groups) through an aromatic coupler were studied by unrestricted density functional theory calculations (UB3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)). Among 15 aromatic couplers, 9 compounds with an odd number of carbon atoms along its spin coupling path were found to interact ferromagnetically upon coupling with bisradicals while the other 6 couplers with an even number of carbon atoms along its spin coupling path give rise to antiferromagnetic coupling. The overall trends in the strength of magnetic interactions of aromatic couplers were preserved for DTDA, OVER, and NN groups so that the trend can be utilized as an index for the magnetic strength of a given coupler. It was found that the differences in the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS), bond order of connecting bonds, and Mulliken atomic spin density at connected atoms between triplet and BS states are closely related to the intramolecular magnetic behavior. 2,4- and 2,5-phosphole couplers exhibit the strongest intramolecular ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions among 15 aromatic couplers when linked to diverse bisradicals.