Using Prussian blue analogue nanoparticles confined into ordered mesoporous silica monoliths as precursors of oxides

Powdered Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) and PBAs confined in ordered mesoporous silica monoliths were used as oxide precursors through thermal treatment under an oxidizing atmosphere. The study focuses on the transformation of the alkali cation-free CoCo PBA of chemical formula K_0.1Co^II₄[Co^III(CN)₆]_2.7·20 H₂O. The compounds were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and the magnetic properties of the calcined samples were investigated. In both cases, powdered and confined PBAs, the coordination polymers are transformed into well-crystallized Co₃O₄ spinel oxide. In the case of the confined PBA, isolated Co₃O₄ single crystals confined within the ordered mesoporosity of the monoliths were evidenced by HRTEM. A preliminary study shows an effect of particle size and confinement on the magnetic properties of the confined oxide particles.     

A unique 2-D hollow sheet structure and magnetic behavior of a cyanide- and triamine-bridged MnIICrIII ferrimagnet

A 2-D cyanide- and triamine-bridged Mn^IICr^III ferrimagnet, [Mn₃(dien)₂(H₂O)₂][Cr(CN)₆]₂ · 4H₂O (1), has been prepared by the combination of Mn²⁺, diethylenetriamine (dien) co-ligand and [Cr(CN)₆]³⁻. This compound forms a unique 2-D hollow sheet structure constructed by 1-D ribbon networks on the basis of triamine (dien)-bridged trinuclear Mn^II units. Compound 1 readily looses all lattice water molecules and irreversibly changes to a dehydrated form, [Mn₃(dien)₂(H₂O)₂][Cr(CN)₆]₂ (1a), in the air. Cryomagnetic studies of 1 and 1a reveal an antiferromagnetic interaction between Cr^III and Mn^II ions, and an unusual long-range ferrimagnetic ordering below 30 K (1) and 40 K (1a) with multiple magnetic phase changes below T_C. MCD spectra of 1a show a strong Faraday ellipticity associated with the LMCT band of the Cr–CN below 300 nm. Faraday ellipticity is remarkably enhanced below T_C in line with the characteristics long-range ferrimagnetic ordering.     

Novel inorganic ionic compounds based on Re6 chalcocyanide cluster complexes: synthesis and crystal structures of [CuNH3(trien)]2[Re6S8(CN)6] · 7H2O, [CuNH3(trien)]2[Re6Se8(CN)6] and [CuNH3(trien)]2[Re6Te8(CN)6] · H2O

Three new octahedral rhenium chalcocyanide cluster compounds [CuNH₃(trien)]₂[Re₆S₈(CN)₆] · 7H₂O (1), [CuNH₃(trien)]₂[Re₆Se₈(CN)₆] (2) and [CuNH₃(trien)]₂[Re₆Te₈(CN)₆] · H₂O (3) exhibiting ionic structures have been obtained by the diffusion of an ammonia solution of KCs₃[Re₆S₈(CN)₆] (for 1), K₄[Re₆Se₈(CN)₆] · 3.5H₂O (for 2) or Cs₄[Re₆Te₈(CN)₆] · 2H₂O (for 3) into a glycerol solution of CuCl₂ · 2H₂O in the presence of trien (trien=triethylenetetramine). The compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All three compounds contain a cationic complex [CuNH₃(trien)]²⁺ which was not described previously.     

Photoinduced magnetism in rubidium cobalt hexacyanoferrate Prussian blue analogue nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of rubidium cobalt hexacyanoferrate were synthesized using the organic ligand poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The particles, with composition Rb_1.8Co₄[Fe(CN)₆]_3.2 · nH₂O determined from CHN combustion analysis and ICP-MS, have an average size of 10 nm ± 2 nm. Similar to bulk samples, the nanoparticles show evidence of ferrimagnetic ordering in DC magnetization below T_C ∼ 15 K, although the transition is broadened due to the small particle size and its dispersion. Upon illumination with white light at 5 K, the field-cooled DC magnetization of these particles increased 40%.     

A new family of magnetic 2D coordination polymers based on [MV(CN)8]3− (M=Mo,W) and pre-programmed Cu2+ centres

The self-assembly of [M(CN)₈]³⁻ (M=Mo, W) anion and polyamine complexes of Cu^II[Cu(tetren)]²⁺ and [Cu(dien)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ (tetren=tetraethylenepentamine, dien=diethylenetriamine) in acidic aqueous solution gives (tetrenH₅)_0.8{Cu^II ₄[W^V(CN)₈]₄}·7.2H₂O 1, (tetrenH₅)_0.8{Cu^II ₄[Mo^V(CN)₈]₄}·7.2H₂O 2, (dienH₃){Cu^II ₃[W^V(CN)₈]₃}·4H₂O 3 and (dienH₃){Cu^II ₃[Mo^V(CN)₈]₃}·4H₂O 4 2D coordination polymers. All compounds are structure-related: the crystal structures of isomorphous 1–2 and 3–4, respectively, consist of double-layered cyano-bridged {Cu^II[W^V(CN)₈]⁻}_n square grid backbones and non-coordinated fully protonated polyamine countercations as well as H₂O molecules located between the sheets. The magnetic measurements reveal long range ferromagnetic ordering with sharp phase transitions at T_C in range 28–37 K and coercivity in range 30–225 Oe at liquid helium temperature, T=4.3 K.     

Die Kristallstruktur der hydratisierten Cyanokomplexe NMe4MnII[(Mn, Cr)III(CN)6] · 3 H2O und NMe4Cd[MIII(CN)6] · 3 H2O (MIII = Fe,Co): Verwandte des Berliner Blaus

The Crystal Structure of the Hydrated Cyano Complexes NMe₄Mn^II[(Mn, Cr)^III(CN)₆] · 3 H₂O and NMe₄Cd[M^III(CN)₆] · 3 H₂O (M^III = Fe, Co): Compounds Related to Prussian Blue The crystal structures of the isotypic tetragonal compounds (space group I4, Z = 10) NMe₄Mn^II · [(Mn, Cr)^III(CN)₆] · 3 H₂O (a = 1653.2(4), c = 1728.8(6) pm), NMe₄Cd[Fe(CN)₆] · 3 H₂O (a = 1642.7(1), c = 1733.1(1) pm) and NMe₄Cd[Co(CN)₆] · 3 H₂O (a = 1632.1(2), c = 1722.4(3) pm) were determined by X‐rays. They exhibit ⊥ c cyanobridged layers of octahedra [M^III(CN)₆] and [M^IIN₄(OH₂)₂], which punctually are interconnected also || c to yield altogether a spaceous framework. The M^II atoms at the positions linking into the third dimension are only five‐coordinated and form square pyramids [M^IIN₅] with angles N–M^II–N near 104° and distances of Mn–N: 1 × 214, 4 × 219 pm; Cd–N: 1 × 220 resp. 222, 4 × 226 resp. 228 pm. Further details and structural relations within the family of Prussian Blue are reported and discussed.     

Thermal expansion in 3d-metal Prussian Blue Analogs—A survey study

We present a comprehensive study of the structural properties and the thermal expansion behavior of 17 different Prussian Blue Analogs (PBAs) with compositions M^II₃[(M′)^III(CN)₆]₂·nH₂O and M^II₂[Fe^II(CN)₆]·nH₂O, where M^II=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn, (M′)^III=Co, Fe and n is the number of water molecules, which range from 5 to 18 for these compounds. The PBAs were synthesized via standard chemical precipitation methods, and temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction studies were performed in the temperature range between −150 °C (123 K) and room-temperature. The vast majority of the studied PBAs were found to crystallize in cubic structures of space groups Fm3?m, F4?3m and Pm3?m. The temperature dependence of the lattice parameters was taken to compute an average coefficient of linear thermal expansion in the studied temperature range. Of the 17 compounds, 9 display negative values for the average coefficient of linear thermal expansion, which can be as large as 39.7×¹0⁻⁶ K⁻¹ for Co₃[Co(CN)₆]₂·12H₂O. All of the M^II₃[Co^III(CN)₆]₂·nH₂O compounds show negative thermal expansion behavior, which correlates with the Irving–Williams series for metal complex stability. The thermal expansion behavior for the PBAs of the M^II₃[Fe^III(CN)₆]₂·nH₂O family are found to switch between positive (for M=Mn, Co, Ni) and negative (M=Cu, Zn) behavior, depending on the choice of the metal cation (M). On the other hand, all of the M^II₂[Fe^II(CN)₆]·nH₂O compounds show positive thermal expansion behavior.     

Magnetic properties of electrochemically prepared crystalline films of Prussian blue-based molecular magnets K j CrII k [CrIII(CN)6] l · mH2O

Crystalline films (thickness ～1 μm) of Prussian blue-based molecular magnets, synthesized using electrochemical method at two different reduction potentials ?0.5 and ?0.9 V, result into K_0.1Cr^II _1.45[Cr^III(CN)₆]?·?mH₂O (film 1) and K_0.8Cr^II _1.1[Cr^III(CN)₆]?·?mH₂O (film 2), respectively. The structural and magnetic properties of such films are investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and dc magnetization measurements. The film morphology, examined using AFM, shows uniformly distributed triangular crystallites over the substrate surface. The presence of Cr^III–C≡N–Cr^II sequence, in the range of 1,900 to 2,300 cm^?1 in IR spectra, confirms formation of Prussian blue analogues. The XRD results reveal information about the crystalline nature of the films and the relative intensities of the Bragg peaks change with the K⁺ ions. The exchange interaction between Cr ions through C≡N ligand confirms that the electron transfer from C≡N molecule to Cr ions is ferrimagnetic in nature. The high Curie temperatures (T _C) are found to be ～195 and ～215 K for film 1 and film 2, respectively. The higher value of T _C is attributed to the inclusion of more K⁺ ions for film 2, resulting decreases in the Cr^III(C≡N)₆ vacancies and increases in the number of nearest neighbors of Cr^II ions. The branching in the zero field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization data below Curie temperature is explained in terms of kinetic behavior of magnetic domains with different cooling conditions and the presence of water molecule vacancies in the lattice.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the chromic oxidation of 3-O-methyl-d-glucopyranose

The oxidation of 3-O-methyl-d-glucopyranose (Glc3Me) by Cr^VI in acid medium yields Cr^III, formic acid and 2-O-methyl-d-arabinose as final products when a 50-times or higher excess of Glc3Me over Cr^VI is used. The redox reaction takes place through the combination of Cr^VI → Cr^IV → Cr^II and Cr^VI → Cr^IV → Cr^III pathways. Intermediacy of free radicals and Cr^II in the reaction was demonstrated by the observation of induced polymerization of acrylamide and detection of CrO₂²⁺ formed by reaction of Cr^II with O₂. Intermediate oxo-Cr^V–Glc3Me species were detected by EPR spectroscopy. In 0.3–0.5 mol/L HClO₄, intermediate Cr^V rapidly decompose to the reaction products, while, at pH 5.5–7.5, where the redox processes are very slow, five-coordinate Cr^V bis-chelates of the pyranose and furanose forms of Glc3Me remain more than 15 h in solution. The C1–C2 bond cleavage of Glc3Me upon reaction with Cr^VI distinguishes this derivative from glucose, which is oxidized to gluconic acid.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic study of photo-sensitive organic–inorganic hybrid system, (SP)[Fe(II)Fe(III)(dto)3](dto = C2O2S2, SP = spiropyran)

A photo-sensitive organic–inorganic hybrid system (SP)[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] (SP = spiropyran, dto = C₂O₂S₂), has recently been developed, where the photo-isomerization of the intercalated spiropyran in solid state triggers the change of the magnetic properties, including the ferromagnetic transition temperature from 5 to 22 K. We performed ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer measurement in order to probe the microscopic states of iron ions in (SP)[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] and have investigated the photo-induced effect on them. The sample without UV-irradiation shows the charge transfer phase transition between 200 and 70 K and the higher and lower temperature phases coexist below 70 K, whereas the UV-irradiated sample does not undergo the charge transfer phase transition and the higher temperature phase is stable between 200 and 6 K.     

A family of dodecanuclear Mn11Ln single-molecule magnets

A series of four isostructural dodecanuclear complexes [Mn^III₉Mn^II₂Ln^III(O)₈(OH)(piv)₁₆(NO₃)(CH₃CN)]·xCH₃CN·yC₇H₁₆ (piv = pivalate; x = ½, y = ¾, Ln = Tb (1); x = 2, y = ½, Ln = Dy (2), Ho (3), and Y (4)) has been prepared for which the structural motif described as ‘a lanthanide ion nested in a large manganese shell’ is observed. All compounds show out-of-phase signals in their ac susceptibilities, and their single-molecule magnet behaviour was confirmed by single-crystal micro-SQUID studies of 1-3 which show hysteresis loops of molecular origin at T < 1.0 K. The SMM behaviour observed in compounds 1-3 is more pronounced than that for 4, which contains the diamagnetic Y^III ion. This is principally the result of ferromagnetic coupling between the paramagnetic anisotropic Ln^III ions (Tb^III, Dy^III and Ho^III) and the manganese shell, which enhances the total spin ground state of the complexes.     

Magnetic dilution effect on the charge transfer phase transition and the ferromagnetic transition for an iron mixed-valence complex, (n-C3H7)4N[FeII1−xZnIIxFeIII(dto)3] (dto = C2O2S2)

Iron mixed-valence complex, (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] (dto = C₂O₂S₂) shows a new-type of phase transition coupled with spin and charge around 120 K, where the charge transfer between the Fe^II and Fe^III sites occurs reversibly, and shows the ferromagnetic transition at 7 K. To investigate the magnetic structure and its dimensionality of (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃], we have synthesized a mixed crystal system, (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^II_1?xZn^II_xFe^III(dto)₃], and measured its magnetic properties. In this system, the magnetic moment is reduced with increasing of Zn ratio. Moreover, the ferromagnetic interaction changes to the antiferromagnetic one and the remnant magnetization disappears between x = 0.48 and 0.96, while the charge transfer between the Fe^II and Fe^III sites disappears above x = 0.26. In this paper, we present the magnetic dilution effect on the charge transfer phase transition and the ferromagnetic transition by means of magnetic susceptibility measurement and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Thermal decomposition of Prussian blue under inert atmosphere

The thermal decomposition of Prussian blue (iron(III) hexacyanoferrate) under inert atmosphere of argon was monitored by thermal analysis from room temperature up to 1000?°C. X-ray powder diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy were the techniques used for phase identification before and after sample heating. The decomposition reaction is based on a successive release of cyanide groups from the Prussian blue structure. Three principal stages were observed including dehydration, change of crystal structure of Prussian blue, and its decomposition. At 400?°C, a monoclinic Prussian blue analogue was identified, while at higher temperatures the formation of various polymorphs of iron carbides was observed, including an orthorhombic Fe₂C. Increase in the temperature above 700?°C induced decomposition of primarily formed Fe₇C₃ and Fe₂C iron carbides into cementite, metallic iron, and graphite. The overall decomposition reaction can be expressed as follows: Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃·4H₂O????4Fe?+?Fe₃C?+?7C?+?5(CN)₂?+?4N₂?+?4H₂O.     

Photomagnetism in CxCo4[Fe(CN)6](8+x)/3·n H2O Prussian blue analogues: looking for the maximum photo-efficiency

A family of CoFe Prussian blue analogues C_xCo₄[Fe(CN)₆]_(8+x/3)□_(4–x)3 (x = amount of alkali cation inserted per conventional cell, C = Na, K, Rb, Cs; □ = [Fe(CN)₆] vacancy) have been synthesized and characterized. Their photomagnetic properties have been investigated by magnetic measurements before and after irradiation and X-ray diffraction under continuous irradiation. We show that the photo-induced magnetism depends on several parameters: (i) the amount of Co^III–Fe^II diamagnetic excitable pairs per cell; (ii) the amount of [Fe(CN)₆] vacancies, and (iii) the amount and nature of the alkali cations per cell. We evidence a discontinuity in the properties' change when the amount of alkali cation x varies, around x = 1. For x < 1, there is an excitation of diluted Co^III–Fe^II diamagnetic pairs in a phase mainly composed of magnetic Co^II–Fe^III entities within the same structural phase through a second-order continuous transformation. For x ≥ 1, the formation of domains mainly composed of Co^II–Fe^III* metastable magnetic pairs in a phase mainly composed of Co^III–Fe^II diamagnetic ones through a first-order discontinuous transition is observed. The study points out that sodium derivatives are more efficient than the others. Among them, Na₁Co₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃□₁ is predicted to be the most efficient one. To cite this article: A. Bleuzen et al., C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Supramolecular aspects of iron(II) crown-dipyridyl spin-crossover compounds

The synthesis, structures and magnetism of the complexes [Fe^II(3-bpp)₂][bpmdcK](SeCN)_1.7(ClO₄)_1.3·MeOH·H₂O (1), [Fe^II(3-bpp)₂]₄[bpmdcH₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₁₀·7H₂O·3MeOH (2) and cis-[Fe^II₂(NCSe)₂((3,5-Me₂pz)₃CH)₂(μ-bpmdc)]·2MeCN (3) (where 3-bpp = 2,6-di(pyrazole-3yl)pyridine, bpmdc = N,N′-bis(4-pyridyl-methyl)diaza-18-crown-6) and (3,5-Me₂pz)₃CH = tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazole)methane, are presented. These compounds form a study of the supramolecular influence of host–guest/crown-ether interactions and cation-to-crown hydrogen-bonding effects upon d⁶ spin transitions, the latter occurring above, or near to, room temperature in 1 and 2. Desolvation effects also influence the T_1/2 values. The dinuclear compound 3 contains covalent pyridyl (crown) N to Fe bridge bonding and remains high spin.     

Synthesis,characterization and fluorescence properties of hexanuclear zinc(II) complexes

Two hexanuclear zinc(II) complexes, [Zn₆(L¹)₂(μ₂-OH)₂(μ₂-CH₃COO)₈] · CH₃CN (1 · CH₃CN) and [Zn₆(L²)₂(μ₂-OH)₂(μ₂-CH₃COO)₈] · 4CH₃CN (2 · 4CH₃CN), where HL¹ = 4-methyl-2,6-bis(cyclohexylmethyliminomethyl)-phenol and HL² = 4-methyl-2,6-bis(1-naphthalylmethyliminomethyl)-phenol, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and fluorescence spectroscopic methods, and by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the asymmetric unit of complex 1, two of the three zinc atoms have pentacoordinate geometries and the other is tetrahedrally coordinated, whereas the three distinct Zn atoms in complex 2 adopt three different coordination environments, namely distorted octahedral, trigonal bipyramidal and tetrahedral. The fluorescence properties of the ligands and complexes have been investigated.     

Spin crossover behavior in two-dimensional bimetallic coordination polymer FeII(3-bromo-4-picoline)2[AuI(CN)2]2: Synthesis,crystal structures,and magnetic properties

A new novel 2D network bimetallic Fe^IIAu^I spin crossover coordination compound based on 3-bromo-4-picoline and bridged cyano ligands, {Fe^II(3-bromo-4-picoline)₂[Au^I(CN)₂]₂}_n (1), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses and IR, using single-crystal X-ray analysis at 293 K and at 90 K and magnetic measurements. The Fe^II ions in 1 have octahedral FeN₆ coordination geometries, which are linked by a [Au^I(CN)₂]^? unit at the equatorial plane to form a polymeric 2D sheet architecture. The two pyridine rings coordinate at the axial positions. The structure of 1 comprises parallel 2D arrays and the layers interact by pairs, defining bilayers with strong binuclear aurophilic Au?Au interactions. Furthermore, intermolecular Au?Br and Br?Br distances in 1 are significantly smaller than the sums of the van der Waals radii. Variable-temperature (2–300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 have been performed to determine behaviors of spin transition. The susceptibility data of 1 indicates that about 50% of the HS states are changed to LS states at 75 K. The Fe–N bond distances at 90 K show that ratio of high spin states agree with the SQUID data.     

Synthesis,structures and magnetic properties of two hexanuclear complexes

The reaction of salicylaldoxime (H₂salox) with Mn(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O, NaN(CN)₂ and NEt₃ in MeOH affords a Mn^III₆ hexanuclear complex of [Mn₆O₂(salox)₆(MeOH)₆(NCNCONH₂)₂] (1), while reaction of H₂salox with MnCl₂ · 4H₂O and NEt₄OH in EtOH affords a Mn^III₆ hexanuclear complex of [Mn₆O₂(salox)₆(EtOH)₄(H₂O)₂Cl₂] (2). Both complexes 1 and 2 contain a [Mn^III₆(μ₃-O)₂]¹⁴⁺ core, which is a known structural type in the family of Mn₆ complexes. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibilities and magnetization measurement of complexes 1 and 2 have been carried out. Exchange interactions of metal centers for complexes 1 and 2 are fitted by a full diagonalization matrix method. The fitting results indicate that both complexes 1 and 2 have the ground-state spin value of S = 4, and the ground state of complex 1 has the much closer energy to low-lying spin states than that of complex 2. Magnetization measurements at 2.0–4.0 K and 10–70 kG confirm that the ground state is S = 4, with significant magnetoanisotropy as gauged by the D value of ?0.82 cm^?1 and ?1.18 cm^?1, for 1 and 2, respectively. The frequency dependence of the out-of-phase component in alternating current magnetic susceptibilities for both complexes 1 and 2 indicates the slow magnetic relaxation of superparamagnetic behaviour with a U_eff of 27.0(1) K and τ₀ = 3.8(2) × 10^?9 s for complex 1, and U_eff of 25.1(6) K and τ₀ = 4.6(1) × 10^?8 s for complex 2.     

Synthesis,physico-chemical and spectral investigations of novel homo-bimetallic mixed-ligand complexes: 57Fe Mössbauer parameters of [Fe2(imda)2(H2O)3Cl]

The newly prepared homo-bimetallic complexes [M₂(imda)₂(H₂O)₄], [M₂(imda)₂(Bipy)₂] (M = Co, Ni or Cu) and [Fe₂(imda)₂(H₂O)₃Cl] (H₂imda = iminodiacetic acid and Bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been studied employing IR, FAB-mass, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, EPR and ligand field spectra, which indicated a high-spin state of metal ion with hexa-coordinate environment. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer data of the homo-bimetallic complex [Fe₂(imda)₂(H₂O)₃Cl] confirm a high-spin configuration with Fe (±3/2 → 1/2) nuclear transitions and the presence of Kramer's double degeneracy. At RT, the spin–spin interactions of the neighbouring nuclei (Fe³⁺–Fe³⁺ = S_5/2–S_5/2) are anti-ferromagnetically coupled. However, at LNT, the complex acquires a mixed-valent [Fe^III–Fe^II] composition corroborated from the X-band EPR data. CV studies indicated the presence of quasi-reversible redox Cu^II/I, Cu^II/III, Fe^III/II, Fe^III/I and Fe^II/I couples.     

Stress-induced ligand field distribution and consequent multi-mode spin crossover in FeII(phen)2(NCS)2 and FeII[HB(pz)3]2

Changes in the nature of spin crossover caused by mechanical stressing exerted on the crystalline powders were studied for Fe^II(phen)₂(NCS)₂ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and Fe^II[HB(pz)₃]₂ (pz = pyrazol-1-yl) by means of a multi-component fitting of the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility. The analysis revealed the development and broadening of the ligand field distribution as a consequence of mechanical stressing. This was confirmed by the broadening of Mössbauer and far-infrared spectra.