Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) with one transition-metal ion often rely on unusual geometry as a source of magnetically anisotropic ground state. Here we report a cobalt(II) cage complex with a trigonal prism geometry showing single ion magnet behavior with very high Orbach relaxation barrier of 152 cm^–1. This, to our knowledge, is the largest reported relaxation barrier for a cobalt-based mononuclear SMM. The trigonal prismatic coordination provided by the macrocyclic ligand gives intrinsically more stable molecular species than previously reported SMMs, thus making this type of cage complexes more amendable to possible functionalization that will boost their magnetic anisotropy even further.

Here we report a combined use of THz-EPR and paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy for obtaining a detailed electronic structure of a high-spin cobalt(ii) complex.