Elucidation of the effects of <i>trans</i> / <i>cis</i> -isomerization of the cinnamate ligand on the structural, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of cobalt( <scp>ii</scp> ) single-molecule magnets

Two new pseudo-octahedral Co(II) complexes 1 [Co(neo)₂(<i>trans</i>-cin)]ClO₄ and 2 [Co(neo)₂(<i>cis</i>-cin)]ClO₄ with <i>trans</i> and <i>cis</i>-cinnamic acid (Hcin) and neocuproine (neo) as ligands were prepared. Both complexes were characterized <i>via</i> single-crystal X-ray analysis, infrared spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, and EPR spectroscopy. DC magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed large axial magnetic anisotropy with axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters <i>D</i> = 49.9 and 59.5 cm^-1 and rhombicity <i>E</i>/<i>D</i> = 0.307 and 0.147 for 1 and 2, respectively. These results were in accordance with CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations. AC magnetic data showed the presence of slow relaxation of magnetization for both compounds in the applied DC field. UV irradiation studies in solution show that the complexes most likely undergo <i>trans</i>/<i>cis</i> photoisomerisation, which is, however, accompanied by side reactions and degradation. This was elucidated further utilizing DFT and TD-DFT calculations.