Circularly polarized luminescence and magneto-optic effects from chiral Dy(iii) single molecule magnets

A new pair of multifunctional Zn(II)-Dy(III) enantiomers based on the chiral Schiff-base ligands [R,R-ZnLDy(H2O)(NO3)3] (1R2R-ZnDy) and [S,S-ZnLDy(H2O)(NO3)3] (1S2S-ZnDy) (H2L = phenol, 2,2'-[[(1R,2R/1S,2S)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediyl]bis[(E)-nitrilomethylidyne]]bis[6-methoxy]) was synthesized and characterized. Magnetic studies indicate that 1R2R-ZnDy behaves as a single-molecule magnet. Enantiomers 1R2R-ZnDy and 1S2S-ZnDy show chiroptical activity and circularly polarized luminescence in the N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. The chiral Zn(II)-Dy(III) complexes display magnetic circular dichroism signals at room temperature. Accordingly, these complexes will inspire intriguing research on single-molecule magnets with circular polarization of luminescence activity and magneto-optic effects, which will give new clues to design multifunctional molecular magnetic materials.