Inkarat Atirojwanich PhD defense - Campus De Beaulieu - ISCR - Bat. 10 B - Amphi Grandjean

Organometallics: Materials & Catalysis (OMC) team

Abstract
The interplay between molecular chirality, lanthanide magnetism, and optical properties provides a promising platform for investigating magneto-chiral phenomena. This work focuses on helicene–lanthanide complexes, with particular emphasis on magneto-chiral dichroism (MChD), a magneto-optical phenomenon arising from the combined presence of chirality, magnetism, and light.
A series of enantiopure helicene-bipyridine lanthanide complexes based on erbium, thulium, and dysprosium was investigated to elucidate the influence of molecular structure, lanthanide electronic configuration, and magnetic properties on their MChD responses. The effect of molecular orientation was examined in the erbium complexes, and their potential for magneto-optical applications was further demonstrated through a proof-of-concept magneto-optical diode. The thulium and isotopically substituted dysprosium systems provided further insights into the role of lanthanide electronic structure and magnetic relaxation in the MChD response.
Magneto-chiral photochemistry was further explored using olefin–lanthanide systems to investigate the influence of magnetic fields on photochemical reactions. During these studies, a previously unobserved organic compound was discovered, and its formation was investigated through control and mechanistic experiments.
Overall, the results highlight helicene–lanthanide complexes as promising molecular platforms for studying and exploiting MChD.

Jury
Elizabeth HILLARD, CNRS Research Director, University of Bordeaux, ICMCB / Reviewer
Jean-Pascal SUTTER, CNRS Research Director, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination Toulouse / Reviewer
Alexandre ABHERVE, CNRS Reseacher, University of Angers, Moltech-Anjou / Examiner
Kevin BERNOT, Professor, INSA Rennes, ISCR / Examiner

Supervisors
Jeanne CRASSOUS, CNRS Research Director, University of Rennes, ISCR
Matteo ATZORI, CNRS Researcher, Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses, Grenoble
Fabrice POINTILLART, CNRS Research Director, University of Rennes, ISCR

Contacts
Inkarat Atirojwanich, Inkarat.atirojwanich@univ-rennes.fr
Jeanne Crassous, Jeanne.crassous@univ-rennes.fr