Molecular coolers: the case for [(Cu5Gd4III)-Gd-II]

The use of triethanolamine (teaH(3)) in 3d/4f chemistry produces the enneanuclear cluster compound [(Cu5Gd4O2)-Gd-II-O-III(OMe)(4)(teaH)(4)(O2CC(CH3)(3))(2)(NO3)(4)]center dot 2MeOH center dot 2Et(2)O(1 center dot 2MeOH center dot 2Et(2)O) whose molecular structure comprises a series of vertex-and face-sharing (GdCu3II)-Cu-III tetrahedra. Magnetic studies reveal a large number of spin states populated even at the lowest temperatures investigated. Combined with the high magnetic isotropy, this enables 1 to be an excellent magnetic refrigerant for low temperature applications.