A tetranuclear Er(III)-based cluster with bifunctional properties: Efficient conversion of CO2 and slow magnetic relaxation behavior

• Published in: Inorganica Chimica Acta 2023-10, Vol.556, p.121560, Article 121560
• Main Authors: Zhao, Jin-Yu, Yang, Chen, Bian, Xiao-Yun, Qiu, Jing, Ren, Shu-Yi, Fang, Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conversion of CO2; Er4 cluster; Heterogenous catalyst; Slow relaxation of magnetization behavior; Structures
• ISSN: 0020-1693; 1873-3255
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2023.121560

A new Er4 cluster 1 displays slow magnetic relaxation behavior and shows high catalytic activity of the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 and epichlorohydrin under mild conditions. [Display omitted] •A new bifunctional tetranuclear Er(III)-based cluster 1 have been synthesized and structurally characterized.•1 displays slow magnetic relaxation behavior under Hdc = 0 Oe field.•Cluster 1 exhibits high catalytic activity and can effectively catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with various epoxides. A new Er4 cluster [Er4(NO3)2(acac)4(L)2(CH3OH)2]·2CH3CN (1) (H4L = (E)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)amino)propane-1,3-diol, and Hacac = acetylacetone) were synthesized by employing a polydentate Schiff-base ligand (H4L) and a β-diketonate co-ligand and further characterized structurally. Alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated that cluster 1 shows slow relaxation of magnetization behavior. More importantly, cluster 1 shows high catalytic activity of the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 and epichlorohydrin under mild conditions; and cluster 1 as heterogenous catalyst can be reused at least three times without any obvious loss in catalytic activity. It is worth mentioning that cluster 1 is a rare bifunctional Ln(III)-based material for both molecular based magnetic material and heterogenous catalyst.