Tuning the Magnetization Dynamic Properties of Nd⋅⋅⋅Fe and Nd⋅⋅⋅Co Single‐Molecular Magnets by Introducing 3 d–4 f Magnetic Interactions.

By using paramagnetic [Fe(CN)6]3− anions in place of diamagnetic [Co(CN)6]3− anions, two field‐induced mononuclear single‐molecular magnets, [Nd(18‐crown‐6)(H2O)4][Co(CN)6]⋅2 H2O (1) and [Nd(18‐crown‐6)(H2O)4][Fe(CN)6]⋅2 H2O (2), have been synthesized and characterized. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that compounds 1 and 2 were ionic complexes. The NdIII ions were located inside the cavities of the 18‐crown‐6 ligands and were each bound by four water molecules on either side of the crown ether. Magnetic investigations showed that these compounds were both field‐induced single‐molecular magnets. By comparing the slow relaxation behaviors of compounds 1 and 2, we found significant differences between the direct and Raman processes for these two complexes, with a stronger direct process in compound 2 at low temperatures. Complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) calculations were also performed on two [Nd(18‐crown‐6)(H2O)4]3+ fragments of compounds 1 and 2. Ab initio calculations showed that the magnetic anisotropies of the NdIII centers in complexes 1 and 2 were similar to each other, which indicated that the difference in relaxation behavior was not owing to the magnetic anisotropy of NdIII. Our analysis showed that the magnetic interaction between the NdIII ion and the low‐spin FeIII ion in complex 2 played an important role in enhancing the direct process and suppressing the Raman process of the single‐molecular magnet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]