Slow Magnetic Relaxation of Co(II) Single Chains Embedded within Metal–Organic Superstructures

Two coordination polymers of the type Co(BPDC)(N-ox), with BPDC being 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylate and N-ox being pyridine N-oxide (PNO) or isoquinoline N-oxide (IQNO), have been synthesized and characterized. The compounds feature 2D and 3D metal-organic networks that encapsulate Co(II)-based chains in a rigid superstructure. The dc and ac magnetic properties of these Co(BPDC)(N-ox) materials have been investigated alongside those of a related Co(BDC)(PNO) compound (where BDC is 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), which contains a smaller dicarboxylate linker. These Co(II)-containing coordination polymers exhibit slow magnetic relaxation, as observed by ac susceptibility measurements. The observed magnetic behavior of all compounds is consistent with an antiferromagnetic interaction between canted Co spins along the 1D skeleton, resulting in single-chain magnet behavior. In the case of Co(BPDC)(IQNO), weak interchain magnetic interactions yield 3D antiferromagnetic order while the inherent magnetic behavior stemming from the chain component is maintained. The combination of these effects in this material puts it at the frontier between single-chain magnets and classical bulk antiferromagnets. This work contributes to the limited group of materials featuring the organization of single-chain magnets within a coordination polymer superstructure.