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The use of radical bridging ligands to facilitate strong magnetic exchange between paramagnetic metal centers represents a key step toward the realization of single-molecule magnets with high operating temperatures. Moreover, bridging ligands that allow the incorporation of high-anisotropy metal ions are particularly advantageous. Toward these ends, we report the synthesis and detailed characterization of the dinuclear hydroquinone-bridged complexes [(Me 6 tren) 2 MII2(C 6 H 4 O 2 2− )] 2+ (Me 6 tren = tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl)amine; M = Fe, Co, Ni) and their one-electron-oxidized, semiquinone-bridged analogues [(Me 6 tren) 2 MII2(C 6 H 4 O 2 − ˙)] 3+ . Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the Me 6 tren ligand restrains the metal centers in a trigonal bipyramidal geometry, and coordination of the bridging hydro- or semiquinone ligand results in a parallel alignment of the three-fold axes. We quantify the p -benzosemiquinone–transition metal magnetic exchange coupling for the first time and find that the nickel( ii ) complex exhibits a substantial J < −600 cm −1 , resulting in a well-isolated S = 3/2 ground state even as high as 300 K. The iron and cobalt complexes feature metal–semiquinone exchange constants of J = −144(1) and −252(2) cm −1 , respectively, which are substantially larger in magnitude than those reported for related bis(bidentate) semiquinoid complexes. Finally, the semiquinone-bridged cobalt and nickel complexes exhibit field-induced slow magnetic relaxation, with relaxation barriers of U eff = 22 and 46 cm −1 , respectively. Remarkably, the Orbach relaxation observed for the Ni complex is in stark contrast to the fast processes that dominate relaxation in related mononuclear Ni II complexes, thus demonstrating that strong magnetic coupling can engender slow magnetic relaxation. 

A series of dysprosium( iii ) metallocenium salts, [Dy(Cp iPr4R ) 2 ][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] (R = H ( 1 ), Me ( 2 ), Et ( 3 ), iPr ( 4 )), was synthesized by reaction of DyI 3 with the corresponding known NaCp iPr4R (R = H, iPr) and novel NaCp iPr4R (R = Me, Et) salts at high temperature, followed by iodide abstraction with [H(SiEt 3 ) 2 ][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ]. Variation of the substituents in this series results in substantial changes in molecular structure, with more sterically-encumbering cyclopentadienyl ligands promoting longer Dy–C distances and larger Cp–Dy–Cp angles. Dc and ac magnetic susceptibility data reveal that these structural changes have a considerable impact on the magnetic relaxation behavior and operating temperature of each compound. In particular, the magnetic relaxation barrier increases as the Dy–C distance decreases and the Cp–Dy–Cp angle increases. An overall 45 K increase in the magnetic blocking temperature is observed across the series, with compounds 2–4 exhibiting the highest 100 s blocking temperatures yet reported for a single-molecule magnet. Compound 2 possesses the highest operating temperature of the series with a 100 s blocking temperature of 62 K. Concomitant increases in the effective relaxation barrier and the maximum magnetic hysteresis temperature are observed, with 2 displaying a barrier of 1468 cm −1 and open magnetic hysteresis as high as 72 K at a sweep rate of 3.1 mT s −1 . Magneto-structural correlations are discussed with the goal of guiding the synthesis of future high operating temperature Dy III metallocenium single-molecule magnets. 

The first dysprosium complexes with a terminal fluoride ligand are obtained as air‐stable compounds. The strong, highly electrostatic dysprosium–fluoride bond generates a large axial crystal‐field splitting of theJ=15/2 ground state, as evidenced by high‐resolution luminescence spectroscopy and correlated with the single‐molecule magnet behavior through experimental magnetic susceptibility data and ab initio calculations.