Cocrystallization of Chiral 3d-4f Clusters {Mn10Ln6} and {Mn6Ln2}

Cocrystallization of different metal nanoclusters facilitates the preparation of cluster-based nanomaterials with enhanced properties. Herein, two pairs of enantiomeric 3d-4f cocrystallization structures of clusters R/S-[Mn10Ln6] and R/S-[Mn6Ln2] (Ln = Dy for 1R and 1S, Y for 2R and 2S) have been reported. Compounds R/S-[Mn10Ln6][Mn6Ln2] exhibit a large optical activity and magneto-optic effect as verified by natural circular dichroism (NCD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD). In addition, alternating current (ac) magnetic measurements show that the chiral R/S-[Mn10Dy6][Mn6Dy2] cocrystallization structure displays slow magnetic relaxation with Ueff = 25.1 K.