Cyclic metal–radical complexes based on 2-[4-(1-imidazole)phenyl]-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide: Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties

Using new nitronyl nitroxide radical ligand 2-[4-(1-imidazole)phenyl]-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (NITPhIm), three new complexes [M(hfac)2(NITPhIm)]2 (M = Cu(II) 1, Mn(II) 2, Co(II) 3; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) have been prepared. Three complexes possess cyclic dimer structure in which each NITPhIm radical links two different metal ions through the oxygen of nitroxide group and the nitrogen of imidazole. The magnetic studies show the copper(II) ion interacts ferromagnetically with the directly bonding nitronyl nitroxide while manganese(II) and cobalt(II) ions strong antiferromagnetically interact with the directly coordinated nitroxide groups. There is a weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal ion and the nitroxide through phenyl and imidazole rings of the radical ligand, which is agreement with spin polarization mechanism. The results show that the minor changes in the structure of radical ligand can change the magnetic behavior of radical–metal complex.