Functionalized Trigonal Lanthanide Complexes: A New Family of 4f Single-Ion Magnets.

We report the synthesis, characterization, and magnetic properties of eight neutral functionalized trigonal lanthanide coordination complexes LnL with Ln = Gd (), Tb (), Dy (), Ho (), Er (), Tm (), Yb (), Lu (). These were prepared through a one-pot synthesis where, first, the ligand HL was synthesized through a Schiff base reaction of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine with 2,6-diformyl--cresol. Following addition of Ln(OTf)·HO and base, LnL was obtained. Powder X-ray diffraction confirms that all complexes are isostructural. LnL contain pendant, noncoordinating carbonyl functions that are reactive and represent direct anchoring points to appropriately functionalized surfaces. Furthermore, these reactive carbonyl functions can be used to postfunctionalize LnL: for example, with aromatic π systems. We present herein the Schiff base condensation of with benzylamine to yield as well as the characterization and magnetic properties of . Our study establishes LnL as a truly versatile module for the surface deposition of Ln-based single-ion magnets.