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Recently, the choice of ligand and geometric control of mononuclear complexes, which can affect the relaxation pathways and blocking temperature, have received wide attention in the field of single-ion magnets (SIMs). To find out the influence of the coordination environment on SIMs, two four-coordinate mononuclear Co( ii ) complexes [NEt 4 ][Co(PPh 3 )X 3 ] (X = Cl − , 1; Br − , 2) have been synthesized and studied by X-ray single crystallography, magnetic measurements, high-frequency and -field EPR (HF-EPR) spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Both complexes are in a cubic space group Pa 3̄ (No. 205), containing a slightly distorted tetrahedral moiety with crystallographically imposed C 3 v symmetry through the [Co(PPh 3 )X 3 ] − anion. The direct-current (dc) magnetic data and HF-EPR spectroscopy indicated the anisotropic S = 3/2 spin ground states of the Co( ii ) ions with the easy-plane anisotropy for 1 and 2. Ab initio calculations were performed to confirm the positive magnetic anisotropies of 1 and 2. Frequency- and temperature-dependent alternating-current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed slow magnetic relaxation for 1 and 2 at an applied dc field. Finally, the magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were compared to those of other Co( ii ) complexes with a [CoAB 3 ] moiety. 

Three mononuclear tetrakis(pseudohalido)-cobalt( ii ) complexes (Ph 4 P) 2 [Co(E) 4 ] (E = N 3 − , 1; NCO − , 2; NCS − , 3) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Each compound contains a distorted tetrahedral Co 2+ ion coordinated by four pseudohalide ligands. The magnetic properties of 1–3 have been studied using direct-current magnetic measurements and high-frequency and -field EPR spectroscopy (HFEPR), suggesting easy-axis magnetic anisotropy for 1 and 2 and easy-plane anisotropy for 3. Analysis of the HFEPR spectra yielded D values of −5.23 and +3.63 cm −1 for 2 and 3, respectively. The absence of the EPR signal in 1 is consistent with a large, negative value of the zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter D in 1. The nature of magnetic anisotropies of 1–3 has also been confirmed by ab initio calculations. The calculated D values are consistent with those determined using magnetometry and HFEPR studies. Alternating current (AC) magnetic susceptibilities reveal slow magnetic relaxation under an applied magnetic field, thus indicating that 1–3 are field-induced single-ion magnets (SIMs). 

Two five-coordinate mononuclear Co( ii ) complexes [Co(12-TMC)X][B(C 6 H 5 ) 4 ] (L = 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (12-TMC), X = Cl − ( 1 ), Br − ( 2 )) have been studied by X-ray single crystallography, magnetic measurements, high-frequency and -field EPR (HF-EPR) spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Both complexes have a distorted square pyramidal geometry with the Co( ii ) ion lying above the basal plane constrained by the rigid tetradentate macrocyclic ligand. In contrast to the reported five-coordinate Co( ii ) complex [Co(12-TMC)(NCO)][B(C 6 H 5 ) 4 ] ( 3 ) exhibiting easy-axis anisotropy, an easy-plane magnetic anisotropy was found for 1 and 2 via the analyses of the direct-current magnetic data and HF-EPR spectroscopy. Frequency- and temperature-dependent alternating-current magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrated that complexes 1 and 2 show slow magnetic relaxation at an applied dc field. Ab initio calculations were performed to reveal the impact of the terminal ligands on the nature of the magnetic anisotropies of this series of five-coordinate Co( ii ) complexes. 

Three mononuclear six-coordinate Co( ii )-pseudohalide complexes [Co(L)X 2 ] with two N-donor pseudohalido coligands occupying the cis -positions (X = NCS − ( 1 ), NCSe − ( 2 ) or N(CN) 2 − ( 3 )), and a five-coordinate complex [Co(L)(NCO)][B(C 6 H 5 ) 4 ] ( 4 ) [L = 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (12-TMC)] have been prepared and structurally characterized. Easy-plane magnetic anisotropy for 1–3 and easy-axis anisotropy for 4 were revealed via the analyses of the direct-current magnetic data, high-frequency and -field EPR (HFEPR) spectra and ab initio theoretical calculations. They display slow magnetic relaxations under an external applied dc field. Typically, two slow relaxation processes were found in 1 and 2 while only one relaxation process occurs in 3 and 4 . The Raman-like mechanism is found to be dominant in the studied temperature range in 1 . For 2–4 , the Raman process is dominant in the low temperature region, while the Orbach mechanism dominates in the high temperature range. 

Correction for ‘Synthesis and structural characterization of metal complexes with macrocyclic tetracarbene ligands’ by Fan Fei et al. , New J. Chem. , 2017, 41 , 13442–13453.