Single-molecule magnet properties of a monometallic dysprosium pentalene complex.

The pentalene-ligated dysprosium complex [(η8-Pn†)Dy(Cp*)] (1Dy) (Pn† = [1,4-(iPr3Si)2C8H4]2-) and its magnetically dilute analogue are single-molecule magnets, with energy barriers of 245 cm-1. Whilst the [Cp*]- ligand in 1Dy provides a strong axial crystal field, the overall axiality of this system is attenuated by the unusual folded structure of the [Pn†]2- ligand.