X-ray magnetochiral dichroism in a series of mononuclear Co(II) single-molecule magnets

Magnetochiral dichroism (MχD) arises in systems where both spatial and time-reversal symmetries are simultaneously broken. Despite its fundamental interest, only a few examples have been reported, particularly in the X-ray range, and there is limited understanding of the factors leading to the phenomenon. This proposal aims to investigate X-ray MχD in a series of four Co(II) single-molecule magnets. The four compounds, all of which crystallize in non-centrosymmetric space groups, vary in their organic ligands-either chiral or achiral-and their organic counter cations. Additionally, these compounds exhibit strong single-ion magnetic anisotropy, resulting in the observation of slow relaxation of the magnetization in all compounds, with one showing a magnetic order. Taken together, these compounds are promising candidates for investigating X-ray MχD at the Co K-edge (ID12), with a particular focus on the influence of the local chiral environment.