Construction of a novel topological frustrated system: a frustrated metal cluster in a helical space.

A novel topologically frustrated pentanuclear cluster helicate [{Cu(II)(μ-L)(3)}(2)Cu(II) (3)(μ(3)-OH)](3+) (L(-)=3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazolate) has been synthesized and characterized. This cluster has a helical arrangement of ligands around the central metal core. Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions are essential components to observe a gradual magnetization and forbidden transitions of high-field/multi-frequency (HF/MF)-ESR. The origin of the magnetic anisotropy of this compound is influenced by its helical spin structure, and consequently, the Cu(5)-cluster helicate introduces a unique magnetic anisotropy. This observation is a direct evidence of the topological part of the new spin phase in a magnetic system.