Magnetism A Supramolecular Function

Molecular magnetism is a new field of research dealing with the synthesis and study of the physical properties of molecular assemblies involving open-shell units. It is essentially interdisciplinary, joining together organic, organometallic and inorganic chemists, as well as theoreticians, physicists and materials scientists. At the core of research into molecular magnetism lie design and synthesis of new molecular assemblies exhibiting bulk properties such as long-range magnetic ordering or bistability with an hysteresis effect, which confers a memory effect on the system. In such terms, magnetism may be considered a supramolecular function. The first eight contributions to this volume present the state of the art in organic supramolecular chemistry, emphasising interlocked systems and molecular trees. The following six articles are devoted to molecular materials constructed from organic radicals and transition metal units. Molecular bistability is then focused on, followed by metal-organic and coordination magnetic materials. A new approach to nano-sized particles closes the work.

Molecular magnetism is a new field of research dealing with the synthesis and study of the physical properties of molecular assemblies involving open-shell units. It is essentially interdisciplinary, joining together organic, organometallic and inorganic chemists, as well as theoreticians, physicists and materials scientists. At the core of research into molecular magnetism lie design and synthesis of new molecular assemblies exhibiting bulk properties such as long-range magnetic ordering or bistability with an hysteresis effect, which confers a memory effect on the system. In such terms, magnetism may be considered a supramolecular function. The first eight contributions to this volume present the state of the art in organic supramolecular chemistry, emphasising interlocked systems and molecular trees. The following six articles are devoted to molecular materials constructed from organic radicals and transition metal units. Molecular bistability is then focused on, followed by metal-organic and coordination magnetic materials. A new approach to nano-sized particles closes the work.

During the past decade we have witnessed not only an increase in knowledge of the "traditional" biophysical problems, but also an understanding of the molecular basis of various biological phenomena. The principles and methods of biophysics now provide an underpin ning of all of the basic biosciences and are the rational language for discussion between scientists of different disciplines. The International School on Biophysics Supramolecular Structure and Function held in Dubrovnik in September 1984 had as its goal to provide comprehensive discussions on a large number of subjects both for younger scientists at the doctoral or postdoctoral level interested in the molecular nature of fundamental biological entities, and for experienced scientists wishing to gain a broader insight into molecular structures and functions. The topics discussed at the School were inter- and intramolecular interactions in biological systems, and the structure, organization, and function of biological macromolecules and supramolecular assemblies. A number of topics were centered around either a biological problem or a physical technique, sometimes giving an unbalanced view of the field under discussion. Some of the topics required previous knowledge of basic biophysical principles, which were then applied to gain greater insight into the molecular functions of diverse supramolecular systems. Although not all the lectures could be prepared for publication in this volume, I hope that it contains valuable up-to-date information on various aspects of the molecular basis of life.

In the broad field of supramolecular chemistry, the design and hence the use of chemosensors for ion and molecule recognition have developed at an extroardinary rate. This imaginative and creative area which involves the interface of different disciplines, e.g. organic and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, is not only fundamental in nature. It is also clear that progress is most rewarding for several new sensor applications deriving from the specific signal delivered by the analyte-probe interaction. Indeed, if calcium sensing in real time for biological purposes is actually possible, owing to the emergence of efficient fluorescent receptors, other elements can also be specifically detected, identified and finally titrated using tailored chemosensors. Pollutants such as heavy metals or radionuclides are among the main targets since their detection and removal could be envisioned at very low concentrations with, in addition, sensors displaying specific and strong complexing abilities. Besides, various species of biological interest (or others, the list is large) including sugars and other micellaneous molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can be actually probed with optodes and similar devices. The present volume in which the key lectures of the workshop are collected gives a survey of the main developments in the field. The success of the workshop mainly came from the high quality of the lectures, the invited short talks, the two posters sessions and the many very lively discussions which without doubt will produce positive outcomes.

Provides an extensive overview of the last three decades of research on the structures and magnetic behaviors of organic and organometallic substances-building a solid foundation for future research into applications of molecular materials based on organic paramagnetic and polymeric systems. Provides the essential body of knowledge for an organically oriented materials science of electronic materials.

The book deals with recent scientific highlights on molecular magnetism in Europe. Molecular magnetism is a new interdisciplinary discipline gathering together chemists and physicists, theoreticians and experimentalists. The book intends to provide the reader with documented answers to many current questions: How can chemists use soft conditions to transform molecules in light and transparent magnets. How does a molecular system can behave as a single molecule magnet. How to combine several functions in the same molecular system. How light can be used to switch molecular magnetic properties. How can molecules be used for ultimate high density information storage or in quantum computing. What kind of methods do physicists develop and use to explore these new properties of matter. What kind of concepts and calculations can be provided for theoreticians to design new objects and to better understand the field and to enlarge its exciting developments.

Organic materials with extraordinary magnetic properties promise a wide range of light, flexible, and inexpensive alternatives to familiar metal-based magnets. Individual organic molecules with high magnetic moments will be the foundation for design and fabrication of these materials.This book provides a systematic understanding of the structure and properties of organic magnetic molecules. After a summary of the phenomenon of magnetism at the molecular level, it presents a survey of the challenges to theoretical description and evaluation of the magnetic character of open-shell molecules, and an overview of recently developed methods and their successes and shortfalls. Several fields of application, including very strong organic molecular magnets and photo-magnetic switches, are surveyed. Finally, discussions on metal-based materials and simultaneously semiconducting and ferromagnetic extended systems and solids point the way toward future advances.The reader will find a comprehensive discourse on current understanding of magnetic molecules, a thorough survey of computational methods of characterizing known and imagined molecules, simple rules for design of larger magnetic systems, and a guide to opportunities for progress toward organic magnets.

Traditionally, magnetic materials have been metals or, if inorganic compounds such as oxides, of continuous lattice type. However, in recent years chemists have synthesized increasing numbers of crystalline solids based on molecular building blocks in the form of coordination and organometallic complexes or purely organic molecules, which exhibit spontaneous magnetization. In striking contrast to conventional magnets, these materials are made from solutions close to room temperature rather than by metallurgical or ceramic methods. This book, which originates from contributions to a Discussion Meeting of The Royal Society of London, brings together many of the leading international practitioners in the field, who survey their own recent work and place it in the context of the wider fields of magnetism and supramolecular chemistry. All aspects of molecular-based magnets are addressed, including synthesis, structure-property relations and physical properties. Contents include details of the characterization of the first purely organic ferromagnet, the synthesis of high coercivity materials and a unique description of new materials with Curie temperatures well above ambient. A coherent survey of this rapidly developing field for the more general reader, Metal-Organic and Organic Molecular Magnets will also be welcomed by researchers and lecturers in materials science and inorganic or solid state chemistry.