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Lanthanide Single-Molecule Magnets are fascinating objects that break magnetic performance records with observable magnetic bistability at the boiling temperature of liquid nitrogen, paving the way for potential applications in high-density data storage. The switching of lanthanide SMM has been successfully achieved using several external stimuli such as redox reaction, pH titration, light irradiation or solvation/desolvation thanks to the high sensitivity of the magnetic anisotropy to any structural change in the lanthanide surrounding. Nevertheless, the use of applied high pressure as an external stimulus is largely underused, especially considering that it can be combined with high pressure X-ray diffraction to establish a complementary structure-property relationship. This Concept article summarizes the few relevant examples of investigations of lanthanide SMMs under applied high pressure, provides conclusions on the effect of such stimulus on molecular structures and magnetic anisotropy, and finally draws perspective on the future development of magnetic measurements under applied pressure., (© 2024 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The extreme sensitivity of trivalent lanthanide ions to crystal field variations led to the emergence of single-molecule magnetic switching under various stimuli. The use of pressure as an external stimulus instead of classic light irradiation, oxidation or any chemical reactions allows a fine tuning of the magnetic modulation. Here the well-known pure isotopically enriched [ 162 Dy(tta) 3 (L)]⋅C 6 H 14 ( 162 Dy) Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) (tta - =2-2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate and L=4,5-bis(propylthio)-tetrathiafulvalene-2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole-methyl-2-pyridine) was experimentally investigated by single-crystal diffraction and squid magnetometry under high applied pressures. Both reversible piezochromic properties and pressure modulation of the slow magnetic relaxation behavior were demonstrated and supported by ab initio calculations. The magnetic study of the diluted sample [ 162 Dy 0.05 Y 0.95 (tta) 3 (L)]⋅C 6 H 14 ( 162 Dy@Y) indicated that variations in the electronic structure have mainly intermolecular origin with weak intramolecular contribution. Quantitative magnetic interpretation concludes to a deterioration of the Orbach process for the benefit of both Raman and QTM mechanisms under applied pressure., (© 2023 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Solvation of [(CNT)Ln(η 8 -COT)] (Ln=La, Ce, Nd, Tb, Er; CNT=cyclononatetraenyl, i.e., C 9 H 9 - ; COT=cyclooctatetraendiid, i.e., C 8 H 8 2- ) complexes with tetrahydrofuran (THF) gives rise to neutral [(η 4 -CNT)Ln(thf) 2 (η 8 -COT)] (Ln=La, Ce) and ionic [Ln(thf) x (η 8 -COT)][CNT] (x=4 (Ce, Nd, Tb), 3 (Er)) species in a solid-to-solid transformation. Due to the severe distortion of the ligand sphere upon solvation, these species act as switchable luminophores and single-molecule magnets. The desolvation of the coordinated solvents can be triggered by applying a dynamic vacuum, as well as a temperature gradient stimulus. Raman spectroscopic investigations revealed fast and fully reversible solvation and desolvation processes. Moreover, we also show that a Nd:YAG laser can induce the necessary temperature gradient for a self-sufficient switching process of the Ce(III) analogue in a spatially resolved manner., (© 2023 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The combination of physical properties sensitive to molecular chirality in a single system allows the observation of fascinating phenomena such as magneto-chiral dichroism (MChD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) having potential applications for optical data readout and display technology. Homochiral monodimensional coordination polymers of Yb III were designed from a 2,15-bis-ethynyl-hexahelicenic scaffold decorated with two terminal 4-pyridyl units. Thanks to the coordination of the chiral organic chromophore to Yb(hfac) 3 units (hfac - =1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylaconate), efficient NIR-CPL activity is observed. Moreover, the specific crystal field around the Yb III induces a strong magnetic anisotropy which leads to a single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour and a remarkable room temperature MChD. The MChD-structural correlation is supported by computational investigations., (© 2022 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Sandwich complexes of lanthanides have recently attracted a considerable amount of interest due to their applications as Single Molecule Magnet (SMM). Herein, a comprehensive series of heteroleptic lanthanide sandwich complexes ligated by the cyclononatetraenyl (Cnt) and the cyclooctatetraenyl (Cot) ligand [Ln(Cot)(Cnt)] (Ln=Tb, Dy, Er, Ho, Yb, and Lu) is reported. The coordination behavior of the Cnt ligand has been investigated along the series and shows different coordination patterns in the solid-state depending on the size of the corresponding lanthanide ion without altering its overall anisotropy. Besides the characterization in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution by 1 H NMR, static magnetic studies and ab initio computational studies were performed., (© 2021 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) property is by essence molecular, while commonly measured in solid crystalline state. Solvent crystallization molecules are usually neglected in the analysis and interpretation of solid-state properties. The solvation/desolvation process in the polyoxometalate(POM)-based Na 9 [Er(W 5 O 18 ) 2 ] ⋅ 35 H 2 O SMM demonstrates that the dehydrated form relaxes more than 1000 times faster than the initial state, while the rehydration process allows the quasi complete recovering of the initial magnetic behaviour. This dehydration process is monitored by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and temperature-dependent X-ray powder diffraction, and rationalized by periodic quantum chemical calculations evidencing the tremendous role of the labile water molecules in the stability of the edifice. Ab-initio calculations highlight that sodium ions localization in the structure drive the magnetic responses. Isotopic enrichment with nuclear spin free ( 166 Er, I=0) Er III ions shows that the relaxation dynamics in the quantum regime depends on the nuclear spin., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

A field-induced chiral Yb III Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) displayed an unprecedented near-infrared circularly polarized luminescence (NIR-CPL) in the solid-state. The bridging bis(1,10-phenantro[5,6b])tetrathiafulvalene triad (L) allowed an efficient sensitization of the NIR 2 F 5/2 → 2 F 7/2 emission while the NIR-CPL is associated to the f-f transitions of the Yb III ion bearing chiral β-diketonate derived-camphorate ancillary ligands., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Divalent lanthanide organometallics are well-known highly reducing compounds usually used for single electron transfer reactivity and small molecule activation. Thus, their very reactive nature prevented for many years the study of their physical properties, such as magnetic studies on a reliable basis. In this article, the access to rare organometallic sandwich compounds of Tm II with the cyclooctatetraenyl (Cot) ligand impacts on the use of divalent organolanthanide compounds as an additional strategy for the design of performing Single Molecule Magnets (SMM). Herein, the first divalent thulium sandwich complex with f 13 configuration behaving as a Single Molecule Magnet in absence of DC field is highlighted.

A textbook dysprosium dinuclear complex based on acetylacetone ligands, [Dy 2 (acac) 4 (μ 2 -acac) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ], has been synthesized and fully characterized. This simple dimeric lanthanide complex shows well-resolved solid-state luminescence and behaves as a single-molecule magnet under zero DC field. A seminal crystal-field approach is used to marry both magnetism and luminescence in the frame of an energetic picture., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Molecular materials that possess a toroidal moment associated to a non-magnetic ground state are known as single-molecule toroics (SMTs) and are usually planar molecules. Herein, we report a Dy 4 cubane, namely [Dy 4 (Bppd) 4 (μ 3 -OH) 4 (Pa) 4 (H 2 O) 4 ]⋅0.333 H 2 O (where BppdH=1,3-Bis(pyridin-4-yl)propane-1,3-dione and PaH=2-Picolinic acid) for which magnetometry measurements and state-of-art ab initio calculations highlight SMT behavior in a tridimensional structure (3D-SMT). The in-depth theoretical analysis on the resulting low-lying energy states, along with their variation in function of the magnetic exchange pathways, allows further light to be shed on the description of single-molecule toroics and identify the coupling scheme that better reproduces the observed data., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The paramagnetic cluster [Cu 43 Al 12 ](Cp*) 12 was obtained from the reaction of [CuMes] 5 and [AlCp*] 4 (Cp*=η 5 -C 5 Me 5 ; Mes=mesityl). This all-hydrocarbon ligand-stabilized M 55 magic atom-number cluster features a Mackay-type nested icosahedral structure. Its open-shell 67-electron superatom configuration is unique. Three unpaired electrons occupy weakly antibonding jellium states. The situation prefigures the formation of a conduction band, which is in line with the measured temperature-independent magnetism. Steric protection by twelve Cp* ligands suppresses the intrinsic polyradicalar reactivity of the Cu 43 Al 12 core., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We report the study of a Dy-based metal-organic framework (MOF) with unprecedented magnetic properties. The compound is made of nine-coordinated Dy III magnetic building blocks (MBBs) with poor intrinsic single-molecule magnet behavior. However, the MOF architecture constrains the MBBs in a one-dimensional structure that induces a ferromagnetic coupling between them. Overall, the material shows a magnetic slow relaxation in absence of external static field and a hysteretic behavior at 0.5 K. Low-temperature magnetic studies, diamagnetic doping, and ab initio calculations highlight the crucial role played by the Dy-Dy ferromagnetic interaction. Overall, we report an original magnetic object at the frontier between single-chain magnets and single-molecule magnets that host intrachain couplings that cancel quantum tunneling between the MBBs. This compound is evidence that a bottom-up approach through MOF design can induce spontaneous organization of MBBs able to produce remarkable molecular magnetic materials., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The first molecular Tm II luminescence measurements are reported along with rare magnetic, X and Q bands EPR studies. Access to simple and soluble molecular divalent lanthanide complexes is highly sought for small-molecule activation studies and organic transformations using single-electron transfer processes. However, owing to their low stability and propensity to disproportionate, these complexes are hard to synthetize and their electronic properties are therefore almost unexplored. Herein we present the synthesis of [Tm(μ-OTf) 2 (dme) 2 ] n , a rare and simple coordination compound of divalent thulium that can be seen as a promising starting material for the synthesis of more elaborated complexes. This reactive complex was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and its electronic structure has been compared with that of its halide cousin TmI 2 (dme) 3 ., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The combination of a bis-alkynyl-helicene moiety with two iron centers leads to novel electroactive species displaying unprecedented redox-triggered chiroptical switching. Upon oxidation, strong changes of vibrational modes (either local or extended coupled modes) are detected by vibrational circular dichroism and Raman optical activity. Remarkably, the sign of the optical rotation at 1.54 µm (that is, at wavelengths typically used for telecommunications) changes upon oxidation while the topology and stereochemistry of the helicene remain unchanged., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We have determined by polarized neutron diffraction (PND) the low-temperature molecular magnetic susceptibility tensor of the anisotropic low-spin complex PPh4 [Fe(III) (Tp)(CN)3]⋅H2O. We found the existence of a pronounced molecular easy magnetization axis, almost parallel to the C3 pseudo-axis of the molecule, which also corresponds to a trigonal elongation direction of the octahedral coordination sphere of the Fe(III) ion. The PND results are coherent with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, magnetometry, and ab initio investigations. Through this particular example, we demonstrate the capabilities of PND to provide a unique, direct, and straightforward picture of the magnetic anisotropy and susceptibility tensors, offering a clear-cut way to establish magneto-structural correlations in paramagnetic molecular complexes., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The influence of nuclear spin on the magnetic hysteresis of a single-molecule is evidenced. Isotopically enriched Dy(III) complexes are synthesized and an isotopic dependence of their magnetic relaxation is observed. This approach is coupled with tuning of the molecular environment through dilution in an amorphous or an isomorphous diamagnetic matrix. The combination of these approaches leads to a dramatic enhancement of the magnetic memory of the molecule. This general recipe can be efficient for rational optimization of single-molecule magnets (SMMs), and provides an important step for their integration into molecule-based devices., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Ligand L was synthesized and then coordinated to [Ln(hfac)3]⋅2 H2O (Ln(III)=Tb, Dy, Er; hfac(-)=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion) and [Ln(tta)3]⋅2 H2O (Ln(III)=Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Yb; tta(-)=2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) to give two families of dinuclear complexes [Ln2(hfac)6(L)]⋅C6H14 and [Ln2(tta)6(L)]⋅2 CH2Cl2. Irradiation of the ligand at 37,040 cm(-1) and 29,410 cm(-1) leads to tetrathiafulvalene-centered and 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-4-pyridine-centered fluorescence, respectively. The ligand acts as an organic chromophore for the sensitization of the infrared Er(III) (6535 cm(-1)) and Yb(III) (10,200 cm(-1)) luminescence. The energies of the singlet and triplet states of L are high enough to guarantee an efficient sensitization of the visible Eu(III) luminescence (17,300-14,100 cm(-1)). The Eu(III) luminescence decay can be nicely fitted by a monoexponential function that allows a lifetime estimation of (0.49±0.01) ms. Finally, the magnetic and luminescence properties of [Yb2(hfac)6(L)]⋅C6H14 were correlated, which allowed the determination of the crystal field splitting of the (2)F(7/2) multiplet state with M(J)=±1/2 as ground states., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Herein, we provide some structural evidence of the complexation color-change of murexide solutions in presence of lanthanide, which has been used for decades in complexometric studies. For Ln = Sm to Lu and Y, the compounds crystallize as monomeric [Ln(Murex)3]⋅11 H2O with an N3O6 tricapped square-antiprism environment, which are stable up to 250 °C. Single-ion magnet (SIM) behavior is then observed on the Yb(III) derivative in an original nine-coordinated environment. In-field slow relaxation (Δ = (15.6±1) K; τ0 = 2.73×10(-6) s) is observed with a very narrow distribution of the relaxation time (αmax = 0.09). Magnetic and photophysical properties can be correlated. On one hand the analysis of NIR emission spectrum permits to have access to crystal field parameters and to compare them with those extracted from dc measurements. On the other hand, magnetic measurements permit to identify the nature of the MJ states involved in the (2)F5/2 → (2)F7/2 luminescence spectrum. The gap between the low-lying states is in agreement with the energy barrier obtained from magnetic slow-relaxation measurement., (Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Reaction of the ligands 4,5-bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvalene-2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (L(1)) and 4,5-bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvalene-2-(2-pyridyl)-3-(2-pyridinylmethyl)benzimidazole (L(2)) with Dy(hfac)3⋅2 H2O (hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate) gave mononuclear complexes [Dy(hfac)3(L(1))] (1) and [Dy(hfac)3(L(2))] (2). In both compounds the Dy(III) ion is surrounded by six oxygen and two nitrogen atoms. Complex 1 displays single-ion magnet (SIM) behaviour only in solution (Δ=12(1) K and τ0 =1.9(4)×10(-6)  s), while complex 2 is a SIM in both solution (Δ=15(2) K and τ0 =1.5(3)×10(-6)  s) and solid state (Δ=17(2) K and τ0 =9.5(2)×10(-6)  s). The SIM behaviour is obtained if the hydrogen bond is broken by dissolution (1 in solution) or by alkylation (2). Multiple relaxation processes were identified for 2 with two competing processes: a fast one in zero field and a slow one for fields higher than 500 Oe. The two processes coexist for intermediate applied magnetic field. Magnetic-dilution and frozen-solution measurements led to the conclusion that the origin of these multiple relaxation processes is not due to the property of a single molecule., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Trinuclear building block {Fe(2)NiO(Piv)(6)} (Piv = pivalate), which possessed pseudo-D(3h) symmetry, was linked by two ligands, pseudo-D(3h) ligand tris-(4-pyridyl)pyridine (L1) and C(2v) ligand 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl-2,6-bis(4-pyridyl)pyridine (L2) into two products with different topologies: 2D coordination polymer [Fe(2)NiO(Piv)(6)(L1)](n) (1), and discrete molecule [{Fe(2)NiO(Piv)(6)}(8) {L2}(12)], which had a nanocube structure (2). In compound 1, trinuclear {Fe(2)NiO(Piv)(6)} blocks were linked through ligand L1 into layers with honeycomb topology. In compound 2, eight trinuclear blocks were located in the vertices of the nanocube, with each L2 ligand linked to two {Fe(2)NiO(Piv)(6)} units. In the crystal structure, these nanocubes formed infinite catenated chains. Analysis of possible structures that could be assembled from these building blocks showed that compounds 1 and 2 corresponded to their respective predicted topologies. Compound [1⋅solvent] possessed a porous structure, in which the voids were filled by solvent molecules (DMF or DMSO). This structure was retained following desolvation, and compound 1 absorbed significant quantities of N(2) and H(2) at 78 K (S(BET) = 730 m(2)  g(-1), H(2) sorption capacity: 0.9 % by weight at 865 Torr). Desolvation of [2⋅solvent] led to disorder of its crystal structure, and compound 2 only adsorbed negligible quantities of N(2) but adsorbed 0.27 % H(2) (by weight) at 855 Torr and 78 K. The magnetic properties of these complexes (temperature dependence of molar magnetic susceptibility) were governed by the magnetic properties of the trinuclear "building block"., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

(TTF-salphen)M compounds (TTF-salphen(2-)=4,5-bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvalene-N,N'-phenylenebis(salicylideneimine) dianion; M=Cu(II) and Ni(II)) have been treated with Ln(hfac)(3)·2H(2)O precursors (hfac(-)=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion; Ln=Gd(III), Tb(III), and Dy(III)) to elaborate unprecedented 3d/4f TTF-based heterobimetallic complexes of formula [(TTF-salphen)MLn(hfac)(3)]. All the structures of these compounds have been resolved by X-ray diffraction on single crystals. The structures of these complexes are formed by a TTF-salphen(2-) ligand coordinated to the 3d metal ions in the inert tetradentate N(2)O(2) site. The Ln(hfac)(3) fragment is coordinated to the (TTF-salphen)M one through the two phenolate bridges. Even if the complexes are similar in both Cu(II) and Ni(II) families, the crystal packing is different. In the first case, dimers of TTF-salphen(2-) donors constitute the organic network. In the other case, a reminiscent organic network is observed with S···S contacts. The photophysical properties of [(TTF-salphen)CuDy(hfac)(3)] (3) in chloroform solution highlight the redshift of the TTF→salphen charge transfer (400 cm(-1)) relative to the analogue excitations in (TTF-salphen)Cu, which attest to the stability of these structures in solution. Static magnetic measurements have allowed us to quantify the ferromagnetic interactions (J=+1.29 cm(-1)) between Cu(II) and Gd(III) in the [(TTF-salphen)CuGd(hfac)(3)] complex. Finally, an empirical method that consists of the comparisons of the magnetic properties of [(TTF-salphen)CuTb(hfac)(3)] with [(TTF-salphen)NiTb(hfac)(3)] and [(TTF-salphen)CuDy(hfac)(3)] with [(TTF-salphen)NiDy(hfac)(3)] has established that ferromagnetic interactions take place between Cu(II) and Tb(III) ions, whereas unusual antiferromagnetic interactions have been identified between Cu(II) and Dy(III) ions., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The reactions between the [Ln(tta)(3)]·2H(2)O precursors (tta(-)=2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate anion) and the tetrathiafulvalene-3-pyridine-N-oxide ligands (L(1)) lead to dinuclear complexes of formula [{Ln(tta)(3)(L(1))}(2)]·xCH(2)Cl(2) (x=0.5 for Ln=Dy(III) (1) and x=0 for Ln=Gd(III) (2)). The crystal structure reveals that two {Ln(tta)(3)} moieties are bridged by two donors through the nitroxide groups. The Dy(III) centre adopts a distorted square antiprismatic oxygenated polyhedron structure. The antiferromagnetic nature of the exchange interaction between the two Dy(III) ions has been determined by two methods: 1) an empirical method using the [Dy(hfac)(3)(L(2))(2)] mononuclear complex as a model (3) (hfac(-)=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion, L(2)=tetrathiafulvaleneamido-2-pyridine-N-oxide ligand), and 2) assuming an Ising model for the Dy(III) ion giving an exchange energy of -2.30 cm(-1), g=19.2 in the temperature range of 2-10 K. The antiferromagnetic interactions have been confirmed by a quantitative determination of J for the isotropic Gd(III) derivative (J=-0.031 cm(-1), g=2.003). Compound 1 displays a slow magnetisation relaxation without applied external magnetic fields. Alternating current susceptibility shows a thermally activated behaviour with pre-exponential factors of 5.48(4)×10(-7) s and an energy barrier of 87(1) K. The application of an external field of 1.6 kOe compensates the antiferromagnetic interactions and opens a new quantum tunnelling path., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The tetrathiafulvalene-amido-2-pyridine-N-oxide (L) ligand has been employed to coordinate 4f elements. The architecture of the complexes mainly depends on the ionic radii of the lanthanides. Thus, the reaction of L in the same experimental protocol leads to three different molecular structure series. Binuclear [Ln(2)(hfac)(5)(O(2)CPhCl)(L)(3)]·2 H(2)O (hfac(-)=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion, O(2)CPhCl(-)=3-chlorobenzoate anion) and mononuclear [Ln(hfac)(3)(L)(2)] complexes were obtained by using rare-earth ions with either large (Ln(III)=Pr, Gd) or small (Ln(III)=Y, Yb) ionic radius, respectively, whereas the use of Tb(III) that possesses an intermediate ionic radius led to the formation of a binuclear complex of formula [Tb(2)(hfac)(4)(O(2)CPhCl)(2)(L)(2)]. Antiferromagnetic interactions have been observed in the three dinuclear compounds by using an extended empirical method. Photophysical properties of the coordination complexes have been studied by solid-state absorption spectroscopy, whereas time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations have been carried out on the diamagnetic Y(III) derivative to build a molecular orbital diagram and to reproduce the absorption spectrum. For the [Yb(hfac)(3)(L)(2)] complex, the excitation at 19,600 cm(-1) of the HOMO→LUMO+1/LUMO+2 charge-transfer transition induces both line-shape emissions in the near-IR spectral range assigned to the (2)F(5/2)→(2)F(7/2) (9860 cm(-1)) ytterbium-centered transition and a residual charge-transfer emission around 13,150 cm(-1). An efficient antenna effect that proceeds through energy transfer from the singlet excited state of the tetrathiafulvalene-amido-2-pyridine-N-oxide chromophore is evidence of the Yb(III) sensitization.

Homo- and heterometallic 1D coordination polymers of transition metals (Co II, Mn II, Zn II) have been synthesized by an in-situ ligand generation route. Carboxylato-based complexes [Co(PhCOO)2]n (1 a, 1 b), [Co(p-MePhCOO)2]n (2), [ZnMn(PhCOO)4]n (3), and [CoZn(PhCOO)4]n (4) (PhCOOH=benzoic acid, p-MePhCOOH=p-methylbenzoic acid) have been characterized by chemical analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and magnetization measurements. The new complexes 2 and 3 crystallize in orthorhombic space groups Pnab and Pcab respectively. Their crystal structures consist of zigzag chains, with alternating M(II) centers in octahedral and tetrahedral positions, which are similar to those of 1 a and 1 b. Compound 4 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2 1/c and comprises zigzag chains of M II ions in a tetrahedral coordination environment. Magnetic investigations reveal the existence of antiferromagnetic interactions between magnetic centers in the heterometallic complexes 3 and 4, while ferromagnetic interactions operate in homometallic compounds (1 a, 1 b, and 2). Compound 1 b orders ferromagnetically at TC=3.7 K whereas 1 a does not show any magnetic ordering down to 330 mK and displays typical single-chain magnet (SCM) behavior with slowing down of magnetization relaxation below 0.6 K. Single-crystal measurements reveal that the system is easily magnetized in the chain direction for 1 a whereas the chain direction coincides with the hard magnetic axis in 1 b. Despite important similarities, small differences in the molecular and crystal structures of these two compounds lead to this dramatic change in properties.