NEW INSIGHT INTO THE FORMATION OF GIANT TORUS-LIKE MANGANESE CLUSTERS: A BOTTOM-UP ROUTE TO NANOSCALE MAGNETS

Ashlyn R. Hale, Khalil A. Abboud, and George Christou

Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611-7200, USA

The discovery of fascinating giant molecular clusters (nuclearity of 30 or greater) of paramagnetic metal ions has garnered immense interest  due to their relevance to chemistry, physics, and materials science. The allure of diverse giant clusters is rooted in their fantastic features, such as their aesthetically-pleasing architectures, nanoscale size regime, and phenomenal physical properties. These features uniquely position giant clusters at the interface between the classical and quantum realms. Mn-oxo clusters are at the forefront of 3d transition metal giant clusters, owing to the relevance of Mn to molecular magnetism, especially single-molecule magnets (SMMs). The largest homometallic Mn cluster and SMM to date was synthesized by our group over a decade ago: the Mn_84­ torus, with a diameter of about 4.2 nm, truly straddles the classical-quantum interface. Over a decade later, our group reported a second member in the family, the Mn₇₀ torus, the second largest SMM and Mn cluster to date. Herein we present the systematic investigation of this family of giant torus-like clusters in continuing efforts to decipher the true driving force of this reaction, paving the way for the discovery of new giant clusters.