One-dimensional iron(II) compounds exhibiting spin crossover and liquid crystalline properties in the room temperature region

A novel series of 1D Fe(II) metallomesogens have been synthesized using the ligand 5-bis(alkoxy)- N-(4 H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)benzamide (C n -tba) and the Fe(X) 2. sH 2O salts. The polymers obey the general formula [Fe(C n -tba) 3](X) 2. sH 2O [X = CF 3SO 3 (-), BF 4 (-); n = 4, 6, 8, 10, 12]. The derivatives with n = 4, 6 exhibit spin transition behavior like in crystalline compounds, whereas those with n = 8, 10, 12 present a spin transition coexisting with the mesomorphic behavior in the room-temperature region. A columnar mesophase has been found for the majority of the metallomesogens, but also a columnar lamellar mesophase was observed for other derivatives. [Fe(C 12-tba) 3](CF 3SO 3) 2 represents a new example of a system where the phase transition directly influences the spin transition of the Fe(II) ions but is not the driving energy of the spin crossover phenomenon. The compounds display drastic changes of color from violet (low-spin state, LS) to white (high-spin state, HS). The compounds are fluid, and it is possible to prepare thin films from them.     

Spin-crossover behavior in cyanide-bridged iron(II)-gold(I) bimetallic 2D Hofmann-like metal-organic frameworks

The synthesis and characterization of new two-dimensional (2D) cyanide-bridged iron(II)-gold(I) bimetallic coordination polymers formulated, {Fe(3-Xpy)2[Au(CN)2]2} (py = pyridine; X = F (1), Cl (2), Br (3), and I (4)) and the clathrate derivative {Fe(3-Ipy)2[Au(CN)2]2}.1/2(3-Ipy) (5), are reported. The iron(II) ion lies in pseudoctahedral [FeN6] sites defined by four [Au(CN)2](-) bridging ligands and two 3-Xpy ligands occupying the equatorial and axial positions, respectively. Although only compounds 2 and 4 can be considered strictly isostructurals, all of the components of this family are made up of parallel stacks of corrugated {Fe[Au(CN)2]2}n grids. The grids are formed by edge sharing of {Fe4[Au(CN)2]4} pseudosquare moieties. The stacks are constituted of double layers sustained by short aurophilic contacts ranging from 3.016(2) to 3.1580(8) A. The Au...Au distances between consecutive double layers are in the range of 5.9562(9)-8.790(2) A. Compound 5, considered a clathrate derivative of 4, includes one-half of a 3-Ipy molecule per iron(II) atom between the double layers. Compound 1 undergoes a half-spin transition with critical temperatures Tc downward arrow = 140 K and Tc upward arrow = 145 K. The corresponding thermodynamic parameters derived from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are Delta H = 9.8 +/- 0.4 kJ mol(-1) and Delta S = 68.2 +/- 3 J K mol(-1). This spin transition is accompanied by a crystallographic phase transition from the monoclinic P2(1)/c space group to the triclinic P1 space group. At high temperatures, where 1 is 100% high-spin, there is only one crystallographically independent iron(II) site. In contrast, the low temperature structural analysis shows the occurrence of two crystallographically independent iron(II) sites with equal population, one high-spin and the other low-spin. Furthermore, 1 undergoes a complete two-step spin transition at pressures as high as 0.26 GPa. Compounds 2- 4 are high-spin iron(II) complexes according to their magnetic and [FeN6] structural characteristics. Compound 5, characterized for having two different iron(II) sites, displays a two-step spin transition with critical temperatures of Tc(1) = 155 K, Tc(2) downward arrow = 97 K, and Tc(2) upward arrow = 110 K. This change of spin state takes place in both sites simultaneously. All of these results are compared and discussed in the context of other {Fe(L) x [M(I)(CN)2]} coordination polymers, particularly those belonging to the homologous compounds {Fe(3-Xpy)2[Ag(CN)2]2} and their corresponding clathrate derivatives.     

Photomagnetic properties of iron(II) spin crossover complexes of 2,6-dipyrazolylpyridine and 2,6-dipyrazolylpyrazine ligands

The photomagnetic properties of the following iron(II) complexes have been investigated: [Fe(L1)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L2)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L2)2][ClO4]2, [Fe(L3)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L3)2][ClO4]2 and [Fe(L4)2][ClO4]2 (L1 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}pyridine; L2 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}pyrazine; L3 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}-4-{hydroxymethyl}pyridine; and L4 = 2,6-di{4-methylpyrazol-1-yl}pyridine). Compounds display a complete thermal spin transition centred between 200-300 K, and undergo the light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect at low temperatures. The T(LIESST) relaxation temperature of the photoinduced high-spin state for each compound has been determined. The presence of sigmoidal kinetics in the HS --> LS relaxation process, and the observation of LITH hysteresis loops under constant irradiation, demonstrate the cooperative nature of the spin transitions undergone by these materials. All the compounds in this study follow a previously proposed linear relation between T(LIESST) and their thermal spin-transition temperatures T(1/2): T(LIESST) = T(0)- 0.3T(1/2). T(0) for these compounds is identical to that found previously for another family of iron(II) complexes of a related tridentate ligand, the first time such a comparison has been made. Crystallographic characterisation of the high- and low-spin forms, the light-induced high-spin state, and the low-spin complex [Fe(L4)2][BF4]2, are described.     

Low-spin→high-spin relaxation dynamics in the highly diluted spin-crossover system [Fe(x)Zn(1-x)(bbtr)3](ClO4)2

Whereas the neat polymeric iron(II) compound [Fe(bbtr)(3)](ClO(4))(2), bbtr = 1,4-di(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)butane, shows a quantitative spin transition triggered by a crystallographic phase transition centered at 107 K with a 13 K wide hysteresis, the iron(II) complexes in the diluted mixed crystals [Fe(x)Zn(1-x)(bbtr)(3)](ClO(4))(2), x = 0.02 and 0.1, stay predominantly in the (5)T(2) high-spin state down to cryogenic temperatures. However, the (1)A(1) low-spin state can be populated as metastable state via irradiation into the spin-allowed (5)T(2)→(5)E ligand-field transition of the high-spin species in the near-infrared. The quantum efficiency of the light-induced conversion is approximately 10% at low temperatures and decreases rapidly above 160 K. The lifetime of the light-induced low-spin state decreases from 15 days at 40 K to 30 ns at 220 K, that is, by 14 orders of magnitude. In the high-temperature regime the activation energy for the low-spin→high-spin relaxation is 1840(20) cm(-1).     

Interplay between kinetically slow thermal spin-crossover and metastable high-spin state relaxation in an iron(II) complex with similar T1/2 and T(LIESST)

This paper describes the first material to show the well-known light-induced excited spin-state trapping (LIESST) effect, the metastable excited state of which relaxes at a temperature approaching its thermal spin-crossover. Cooling polycrystalline [FeL(2)][BF(4)](2).x H(2)O (L=2,6-bis[3-methylpyrazol-1-yl]pyridine; x=0-1/3) at 1 K min(-1) leads to a cooperative spin transition, taking place in two steps centered at 147 and 105 K, that is only 54 % complete by magnetic susceptibility. Annealing the sample at 100 K for 2 h results in a slow decrease in chi(M)T to zero, showing that the remainder of the spin-crossover can proceed, but is kinetically slow. The crystalline high- and fully low-spin phases of [FeL(2)][BF(4)](2).x H(2)O are isostructural (C2/c, Z=8), but the spin-crossover proceeds via a mixed-spin intermediate phase that has a triple unit cell (C2/c, Z=24). The water content of the crystals is slowly lost on exposure to air without causing decomposition. However, the high-spin/mixed-spin transition in the crystal proceeds at 110+/-20 K when x=1/3 and 155+/-5 K when x=0, which correspond to the two spin-crossover steps seen in the bulk material. The high-spin state of the compound is generated quantitatively by irradiation of the low-spin or the mixed-spin phase at 10 K, and in approximately 70 % yield by rapidly quenching the sample to 10 K. This metastable high-spin state relaxes back to the low-spin ground state at 87+/-1 K in one, not two, steps, and without passing through the intermediate phase. This implies that thermal spin-crossover and thermally activated high-spin-low-spin relaxation in this material become decoupled, thus avoiding the physical impossibility of T(LIESST) being greater than T(1/2).     

Spin transition at the mesophase transition temperature in a cobalt(II) compound with branched alkyl chains

A cobalt(II) compound, [Co(C5C12C10-terpy)2](BF4)2 [C5C12C10-terpy = 4',5' '-decyl-1' '-(heptadecyloxy)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine] with branched alkyl chains, based on a terpyridine frame, was synthesized. The cobalt(II) compound exhibits a spin transition between low-spin and high-spin with a thermal hysteresis loop (T(1/2) upward arrow = 288 K and T(1/2) downward arrow = 284 K) at the liquid-crystal transition temperature. It is the first example in the cobalt(II) compounds in which the spin transition occurs at the crystal-liquid crystal transition temperature.     

Sub-picosecond time resolved infrared spectroscopy of high-spin state formation in Fe(ii) spin crossover complexes

The photoinduced low-spin (S = 0) to high-spin (S = 2) transition of the iron(ii) spin-crossover systems [Fe(btpa)](PF(6))(2) and [Fe(b(bdpa))](PF(6))(2) in solution have been studied for the first time by means of ultrafast transient infrared spectroscopy at room temperature. Negative and positive infrared difference bands between 1000 and 1065 cm(-1) that appear within the instrumental system response time of 350 fs after excitation at 387 nm display the formation of the vibrationally unrelaxed and hot high-spin (5)T(2) state. Vibrational relaxation is observed and characterized by the time constants 9.4 +/- 0.7 ps for [Fe(btpa)](PF(6))(2)/acetone and 12.7 +/- 0.7 ps for both [Fe(btpa)](PF(6))(2)/acetonitrile and [Fe(b(bdpa)](PF(6))(2)/acetonitrile. Vibrational analysis has been performed via DFT calculations of the low-spin and high-spin state normal modes of both compounds as well as their respective infrared absorption cross sections. The simulated infrared difference spectra are dominated by an increase of the absorption cross section upon high-spin state formation in accordance with the experimental infrared spectra.     

Structural characterization of a photoinduced molecular switch

The crystal structures in both irradiated and nonirradiated states of a photoinduced molecular switch based on the spin-crossover phenomenon are presented. From the structural point of view, the light-induced metastable high-spin state of the spin-crossover complex [Fe(phen)2(NCS)2] (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) shows significant differences with the low-spin state but also with the thermally induced high-spin state.     

One- and two-step spin-crossover behavior of [Fe(II)(isoxazole)(6)](2+) and the structure and magnetic properties of triangular [Fe(III)(3)O(OAc)(6)(isoxazole)(3)][ClO(4)

The structure and spin-crossover magnetic behavior of [Fe(II)1(6)][BF(4)](2) (1 = isoxazole) and [Fe(II)1(6)][ClO(4)](2) have been studied. [Fe(II)1(6)][BF(4)](2) undergoes two reversible spin-crossover transitions at 91 and 192 K, and is the first two-step spin transition to undergo a simultaneous crystallographic phase transition, but does not exhibit thermal hysteresis. The single-crystal structure determinations at 260 [space group P3, a = 17.4387(4) A, c = 7.6847(2) A] and at 130 K [space group P1, a = 17.0901(2) A, b = 16.7481(2) A, c = 7.5413(1) A, alpha = 90.5309(6) degrees, beta = 91.5231(6) degrees, gamma = 117.8195(8) degrees ] reveal two different iron sites, Fe1 and Fe2, in a 1:2 ratio. The room-temperature magnetic moment of 5.0 mu(B) is consistent with high-spin Fe(II). A plateau in mu(T) having a moment of 3.3 mu(B) centered at 130 K suggests a mixed spin system of some high-spin and some low-spin Fe(II) molecules. On the basis of the Fe-N bond distances at the two temperatures, and the molar fraction of high-spin molecules at the transition plateau, Fe1 and Fe2 can be assigned to the 91 and 192 K transitions, respectively. [Fe(II)1(6)][ClO(4)](2) [space group P3, a = 17.5829(3) A, c = 7.8043(2) A, beta = 109.820 (3) degrees, T = 295 K] also possesses Fe1:Fe2 in a 1:2 ratio, and magnetic measurements show a single spin transition at 213 K, indicating that both Fe1 and Fe2 undergo a simultaneous spin transition. [Fe(II)1(6)][ClO(4)](2) slowly decomposes in solutions containing acetic anhydride to form [Fe(III)(3)O(OAc)(6)1(3)][ClO(4)] [space group I2, a = 10.1547(7) A, b = 16.5497(11) A, c = 10.3205(9) A, beta = 109.820 (3) degrees, T = 200 K]. The isosceles Fe(3) unit contains two Fe.Fe distances of 3.2844(1) A and a third Fe.Fe distance of 3.2857(1) A. The magnetic data can be fit to a trinuclear model with H = -2J(S(1)xS(2) + S(2)xS(3)) - 2J(13)(S(1)xS(3)), where J = -27.1 and J(13) = -32.5 cm(-1).     

Chemical/Physical pressure tunable spin-transition temperature and hysteresis in a two-step spin crossover porous coordination framework

A two-dimensional (2D) square-grid type porous coordination polymer [Fe(bdpt)(2)]·guest (1·g, Hbdpt = 3-(5-bromo-2-pyridyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole) with isolated small cavities was designed and constructed as a spin-crossover (SCO) material based on octahedral Fe(II)N(6) units and an all-nitrogen ligand. Three guest-inclusion forms were successfully prepared for 1·g (1·EtOH for g = ethanol, 1·MeOH for g = methanol, 1 for g = Null), in which the guest molecules interact with the framework as hydrogen-bonding donors. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that 1·g exhibited two-step SCO behavior with different transition temperatures (1·EtOH < 1·MeOH < 1) and hysteresis widths (1·EtOH > 1·MeOH > 1 ≈ 0). Such guest modulation of two-step spin crossover temperature and hysteresis without changing two-step state in a porous coordination framework is unprecedented. X-ray single-crystal structural analyses revealed that all two-step SCO processes were accompanied with interesting symmetry-breaking phase transitions from space group of P2(1)/n for all high-spin Fe(II), to P1? for ordered half high-spin and half low-spin Fe(II), and back to P2(1)/n for all low-spin Fe(II) again by lowering temperature. The different SCO behaviors of 1·g were elucidated by the steric mechanism and guest-host hydrogen-bonding interactions. The SCO behavior of 1·g can be also controlled by external physical pressure.     

Correlation of spin states and spin delocalization with the dioxygen reactivity of catecholatoiron(III) complexes

A series of catecholatoiron(III) complexes, [Fe(III)L(4Cl-cat)]BPh4 (L = (4-MeO)2TPA (1), TPA (2), (4-Cl)2TPA (3), (4-NO2)TPA (4), (4-NO2)2TPA (5); TPA = tris(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine; 4Cl-cat = 4-chlorocatecholate), have been characterized by magnetic susceptibility measurements and EPR, 1H NMR, and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopies to clarify the correlation of the spin delocalization on the catecholate ligand with the O2 reactivity as well as the spin-state dependence of the O2 reactivity. EPR spectra in frozen CH3CN at 123 K clearly showed that introduction of electron-withdrawing groups effectively shifts the spin equilibrium from a high-spin to a low-spin state. The effective magnetic moments determined by the Evans method in a CH3CN solution showed that 5 contains 36% of low-spin species at 243 K, while 1-4 are predominantly in a high-spin state. Evaluation of spin delocalization on the 4Cl-cat ligand by paramagnetic 1H NMR shifts revealed that the semiquinonatoiron(II) character is more significant in the low-spin species than in the high-spin species. The logarithm of the reaction rate constant is linearly correlated with the energy gap between the catecholatoiron(III) and semiquinonatoiron(II) states for the high-spin complexes 1-3, although complexes 4 and 5 deviate negatively from linearity. The lower reactivity of the low-spin complex, despite its higher spin density on the catecholate ligand compared with the high-spin analogues, suggests the involvement of the iron(III) center, rather than the catecholate ligand, in the reaction with O2.     

High-spin- and low-spin-state structures of [Fe(chloroethyltetrazole)6](ClO4)2 from synchrotron powder diffraction data

The spin-crossover complex [Fe(teec)(6)](ClO(4))(2) (teec = chloroethyltetrazole) exhibits a 50 % incomplete spin crossover in the temperature range 300-30 K. Time-resolved synchrotron powder diffraction experiments have been carried out to elucidate its structural behavior. We report crystal structure models of this material at 300 K (high spin) and 90 K (low spin), as solved from synchrotron powder diffraction data by using Genetic Algorithm and Parallel Tempering techniques and refined with Rietveld refinement. During short synchrotron powder diffraction experiments (five minutes duration) two distinguishable lattices were observed the quantities of which vary with temperature. The implication of this phenomenon, that is interpreted as a structural phase transition associated with the high-to-low spin crossover, and the structural characteristics of the high-spin and low-spin models are discussed in relation to other compounds showing a similar type of spin-crossover behavior.     

Probing the 3d spin momentum with X-ray emission spectroscopy: the case of molecular-spin transitions

We report X-ray emission spectra of Fe(III), Fe(II), and Co(II) spin-crossover compounds in their high-spin and low-spin forms. It is shown that all X-ray emission features are sensitive to the spin state. Variations of the Kbeta and the Kalpha emission line shapes, which are in agreement with theory, can be used as quantitative probes of the spin state; it is suggested that with appropriate reference experiments one can extract the spin momentum for a general case. Resonant X-ray emission spectra unveil details of the redistribution of electrons on the 3d levels associated with the spin-state change by revealing features at the X-ray absorption preedge not accessible through standard absorption measurements.     

Tris(5-methylpyrazolyl)methane: synthesis and properties of its iron(II) complex

The new ligand, tris(5-methylpyrazolyl)methane (1), has been prepared by the reaction of n-butyl lithium with tris(pyrazolyl)methane followed by trimethylation of the tetralithiated species with methyl iodide. The BF(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), and BPh(3)CN(-) salts of the Fe(II) complex of this ligand were also synthesized. The X-ray crystal structure of the BF(4)(-) complex (2) at 100 K had Fe-N bond lengths of 1.976 ?, indicative of a low spin Fe(II) complex, while at room temperature, the structure of this complex had a Fe-N bond distance close to 2.07 ?, indicative of an admixture of approximately 50% low-spin and 50% high-spin. The solid-state structure of the complex with a ClO(4)(-) counterion was determined at 5 different temperatures between 173 and 293 K, which allowed the thermodynamic parameters for the spin-crossover to be estimated. M?ssbauer spectra of the BF(4)(-) complex further support spin-state crossover in the solid state with a transition temperature near 300 K. UV-visible spectroscopy and (1)H NMR studies of 2 show that the transition temperature in solution is closer to 400 K. No spin-crossover was observed for [Fe(1)(2)](2+)·2BPh(3)CN(-). The results allow the separation of effects of groups in the 3-position from those in the 5-position on tpm ligands, and also point toward a small cooperative effect in the spin-crossover for the Fe(II) complex.     

Ligand-Driven Light-Induced Spin Change in Transition-Metal Complexes: Selection of an Appropriate System and First Evidence of the Effect, in Fe(II)(4-styrylpyridine)(4)(NCBPh(3))(2)

The first observation of a ligand-driven light-induced spin-state change (LD-LISC effect) in a transition-metal complex is reported. The compounds under investigation are of the type Fe(II)L(4)X(2), where L is a cis/trans photoisomerizable ligand. For an iron(II) spin-state change to result from ligand cis <--> trans conversion, the Fe(II)(trans-L)(4)X(2) species had to exhibit a thermally-induced high-spin state <--> low-spin state crossover. This property was checked by variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements, for compounds with X(-) = NCBPh(3)(-) or NCBH(3)(-) and L = 1-phenyl-2-(4-pyridyl)ethene (or 4-styrylpyridine, abbreviated as Stpy), 1-(4-R-phenyl)-2-(4-pyridyl)ethene (R = CH(3), COOCH(3)), or 1-(1-naphthyl)-2-(4-pyridyl)ethene. The results are comparatively discussed. The best candidate for the LD-LISC effect to be observed is found to be Fe(Stpy)(4)(NCBPh(3))(2): the complex (C(t)) formed with trans-Stpy undergoes a thermally-induced spin crossover centered around 190 K; the one (C(c)) formed with cis-Stpy retains the high-spin state at any temperature. Photoisomerization of the Stpy ligand, at 140 K, in the complex embedded within a cellulose acetate matrix, is effectively shown, on the basis of UV-vis absorption measurements, to trigger the spin-state change of the iron(II) ions.     

Designing dinuclear iron(II) spin crossover complexes. Structure and magnetism of dinitrile-, dicyanamido-, tricyanomethanide-, bipyrimidine- and tetrazine-bridged compounds

In order to expand the few known examples of dinuclear iron(II) compounds displaying (weak) intradinuclear exchange coupling and spin-crossover on one or both of the iron(II) centres, various dinuclear compounds have been synthesised and assessed for their spin-crossover and exchange coupling behaviour. The key aim of the work was to prepare and structurally characterise 'weakly linked' and 'covalently bridged' systems incorporating bridging ligands such as alkyldinitriles (e.g.NC(CH(2))(4)CN), bipyrimidine (bpym), dicyanamide (dca(-)), tricyanomethanide (tcm(-)), 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)tetrazine (bptz) and 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)2,5-dihydrotetrazine (H(2)bptz). The 'end groups', which complete the Fe(ii)N(6) chromophores, include tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa), di(2-pyridylethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa'), 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole (pypzH), 1,10-phenanthroline (1,10-phen), tris(pyrazolyl)methane (tpm) and NCX(-)(X = S, Se). It was quite difficult to achieve the spin-crossover condition, many ligand combinations yielding high-spin/high-spin (HS-HS) Fe(II)Fe(II) spin states at all temperatures (300-2 K) with very weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J < -1 cm(-1)), two such being the crystallographically characterised [(dca)(tpm)Fe(mu(1,5)-dca)(2)Fe(tpm)(dca)], 5, and [(tpa')Fe(mu(1,5)-tcm)(2)Fe(tpa')](tcm)(2)(H(2)O)(2), 6. In contrast, a strong field was created around the Fe(II) centres in [(tpa)Fe(mu-(NC(CH(2))(4)CN))(2)Fe(tpa)](ClO(4))(4).NC(CH(2))(4)CN, 1, and the Fe-N bond distances, at 173 K, reflected this. This weakly-linked dinitrile example showed a spin-crossover beginning above 300 K. 'Half crossover' examples, yielding HS-LS states below the spin transition, similar to those noted by Real and coworkers in some mu-bpym systems, were noted for [(1,10-phen)(NCS)(2)Fe(mu-bpym)Fe(NCS)(2)(1,10-phen)], 2, [(pypzH)(NCSe)(2)Fe(mu-bpym)Fe(NCSe)(2)(pypzH)], 4, and [(tpa)Fe(mu-H(2)bptz)Fe(tpa)](ClO(4))(4), 8. Interestingly, the mu-bptz analogue, 7, remained LS-LS at all temperatures with the start of a broad spin crossover evident above 300 K. No thermal hysteresis was evident in the spin transitions of these new dinuclear crossover species indicating a lack of intra- or interdinuclear cooperativity.     

Synthesis, molecular and electronic structures of six-coordinate transition metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) complexes with redox-active 9-hydroxyphenoxazin-1-one ligands

A series of pseudo-octahedral metal (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) complexes 4 of a new redox-active ligand, 2,4,6,8-tetra(tert-butyl)-9-hydroxyphenoxazin-1-one 3, have been synthesized, and their molecular structures determined with help of X-ray crystallography. The effective magnetic moments of complexes 4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) measured in the solid state and toluene solution point to the stabilization of their high-spin electronic ground states. Detailed information on the electronic structure of the complexes and their redox-isomeric forms has been obtained using density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP*/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. The energy disfavored low-spin structures of manganese, iron, and cobalt complexes have been located, and based on the computed geometries and distribution of spin densities identified as Mn(IV)[(Cat-N-SQ)](2), Fe(II)[Cat-N-BQ)](2), and Co(II)[Cat-N-BQ)](2) compounds, respectively. It has been shown that stabilization of the high-spin structures of complexes 4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co) is caused by the rigidity of the molecular framework of ligands 3 that sterically inhibits interconversions between the redox-isomeric forms of the complexes. The calculations performed on complex 4 (M = Co) predict that a suitable structural modification that might provide for stabilization of the low-spin electromeric forms and create conditions for the valence tautomeric rearrangement via stabilization of the low-spin electromer and narrowing energy gap between the low-spin ground state tautomer and the minimal energy crossing point on the intersection of the potential energy surfaces of the interconverting structures consists in the replacement of an oxygen in the oxazine ring by a bulkier sulfur atom.     

A hydrogen bond motif giving a variety of supramolecular assembly structures and spin-crossover behaviors

A series of spin-crossover (SCO) iron(II) compounds, fac-[Fe(II)(HL(R))(3)]Cl·PF(6) [R = methyl (Me, 1), ethyl (Et, 2), n-propyl (n-Pr, 3), n-butyl (n-Bu, 4), and n-pentyl (n-Pen, 5)], were synthesized, where HL(R) denotes a series of [(2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene]monoalkylamines. The cations fac-[Fe(II)(HL(R))(3)](2+) and chloride anions associate through 3:3 imidazole···chloride hydrogen bonding. This hydrogen-bonding motif gives rise to a variety of assembly structures consisting of a one-dimensional ladder for 3 and 4, two kinds of two-dimensional networks for 1 and 2, and a cubane-like structure for 5. The compounds exhibit various types of SCO transitions between high-spin (S = 2) and low-spin (S = 0) states as a result of their intermolecular interactions.     

A switchable molecular rotator: neutron spectroscopy study on a polymeric spin-crossover compound

A quasielastic neutron scattering and solid-state (2)H NMR spectroscopy study of the polymeric spin-crossover compound {Fe(pyrazine)[Pt(CN)(4)]} shows that the switching of the rotation of a molecular fragment--the pyrazine ligand--occurs in association with the change of spin state. The rotation switching was examined on a wide time scale (10(-13)-10(-3) s) by both techniques, which clearly demonstrated the combination between molecular rotation and spin-crossover transition under external stimuli (temperature and chemical). The pyrazine rings are seen to perform a 4-fold jump motion about the coordinating nitrogen axis in the high-spin state. In the low-spin state, however, the motion is suppressed, while when the system incorporates benzene guest molecules, the movements of the system are even more restricted.     

Does the solid-liquid crystal phase transition provoke the spin-state change in spin-crossover metallomesogens?

Three types of interplay/synergy between spin-crossover (SCO) and liquid crystalline (LC) phase transitions can be predicted: (i) systems with coupled phase transitions, where the structural changes associated to the Cr<-->LC phase transition drives the spin-state transition, (ii) systems where both transitions coexist in the same temperature region but are not coupled, and (iii) systems with uncoupled phase transitions. Here we present a new family of Fe(II) metallomesogens based on the ligand tris[3-aza-4-((5-C(n))(6-R)(2-pyridyl))but-3-enyl]amine, with C(n) = hexyloxy, dodecyloxy, hexadecyloxy, octadecyloxy, eicosyloxy, R = hydrogen or methyl (C(n)-trenH or C(n)-trenMe), which affords examples of systems of types i, ii, and iii. Self-assembly of the ligands C(n)-trenH and C(n)-trenMe with Fe(A)2 x xH2O salts have afforded a family of complexes with general formula [Fe(C(n)-trenR)](A)2 x sH2O (s > or = 0), with A = ClO4(-), F-, Cl-, Br- and I-. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed on two derivatives of this family, named as [Fe(C6-trenH)](ClO4)2 (C(6)-1) and [Fe(C6-trenMe)](ClO4)2 (C(6)-2), at 150 K for C(6)-1 and at 90 and 298 K for C(6)-2. At 150 K, C(6)-1 displays the triclinic space group P, whereas at 90 and at 298 K C(6)-2 adopts the monoclinic P2(1)/c space group. In both compounds the iron atoms adopt a pseudo-octahedral symmetry and are surrounded by six nitrogen atoms belonging to imino groups and pyridines of the ligands C(n)-trenH and C(n)-trenMe. The average Fe(II)-N bonds (1.963(2) A) at 150 K denote that C(6)-1 is in the low-spin (LS) state. For C(6)-2 the average Fe(II)-N bonds (2.007(1) A) at 90 K are characteristic of the LS state, while at 298 K they are typical for the high-spin (HS) state (2.234(3) A). Compound C(6)-1 and [Fe(C18-trenH)](ClO4)2 (C(18)-1) adopts the LS state in the temperature region between 10 and 400 K, while compound C(6)-2 and [Fe(Cn-trenMe)](ClO4)2 (n = 12 (C(12)-2), 18 (C(18)-2)) exhibit spin crossover behavior at T(1/2) centered around 140 K. The thermal spin transition is accompanied by a pronounced change of color from dark red (LS) to orange (HS). The light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect has been investigated in compounds C(6)-2, C(12)-2 and C(18)-2. The T(1/2)LIESST is 56 K (C(6)-2), 48 K (C(16)-2), and 56 K (C(18)-2). On the basis of differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy, and X-ray diffraction findings for C(18)-1, C(12)-2, and C(18)-2 at high temperature a smectic mesophase SX has been identified with layered structures similar to C(6)-1 and C(6)-2. The compounds [Fe(C(n)-trenH)](Cl)2 x sH2O (n = 16 (C(16)-3, s = 3.5, C(16)-4, s = 0.5, C(16)-5, s = 0), 18 (C(18)-3, s = 3.5, C(18)-4, s = 0.5, C(18)-5, s = 0), 20 (C(20)-3, s = 3.5, C(20)-4, s = 0.5, C(20)-5, s = 0)) and [Fe(C18-tren)](F)2 x sH2O (C(18)-6, s = 3.5, C(18)-7, s = 0) show a very particular spin-state change, while [Fe(C18-tren)](Br)2 x 3H2O (C(18)-8) together with [Fe(C18-tren)](I)2 (C(18)-9) are in the LS state (10-400 K) and present mesomorphic behavior like that observed for the complexes C(18)-1, C(12)-2, and C(18)-2. In compounds C(n)-3 50% of the Fe(II) ions undergo spin-state change at T(1/2) = 375 K induced by releasing water, and in partially dehydrated compounds (s = 0.5) the Cr-->SA phase transition occurs at 287 K (C(16)-4), 301 K (C(18)-4) and 330 K (C(20)-4). For the fully dehydrated materials C(n)-5 50% of the Fe(II) ions are in the HS state and show paramagnetic behavior between 10 and 400 K. In the partially dehydrated C(n)-4 the spin transition is induced by the change of the aggregate state of matter (solid<-->liquid crystal). For compound C(18)-6 the full dehydration to C(18)-7 provokes the spin-state change of nearly 50% of the Fe(II) ions. The compounds C(n)-3 and C(18)-6 are dark purple in the LS state and become light purple-brown when 50% of the Fe(II) atoms are in the HS state.