Spin‐Crossover Physical Gels: A Quick Thermoreversible Response Assisted by Dynamic Self‐Organization

Iron(II) triazolate coordination polymers with lipophilic sulfonate counterions with alkyl chains of different lengths have been synthesized. In hydrocarbon solvents, these polymers formed a physical gel and showed a thermoreversible spin transition upon the sol–gel phase transition. The formation of a hydrogen‐bonding network between the triazolate moieties and sulfonate ions, bridged by water molecules, was found to play an important role in the spin‐crossover event. The spin‐transition temperature was tuned over a wide range by adding a small amount of 1‐octanol, a scavenger for hydrogen‐bonding interactions. This additive was essential for the iron(II) species to adopt a low‐spin state. Compared with nongelling references in aromatic solvents, the spin‐crossover physical gels are characterized by their quick thermal response, which is due to a rapid restoration of the hydrogen‐bonding network, possibly because of a dynamic structural ordering through an enhanced lipophilic interaction of the self‐assembling components in hydrocarbon solvents.     

Toward an Iron(II) Spin-Crossover Grafted Phosphazene Polymer

Two new cyclotriphosphazene ligands with pendant 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (Terpy) moieties, namely, (pentaphenoxy){4-[2,6-bis(2-pyridyl)]pyridoxy}cyclotriphosphazene (L(1)), (pentaphenoxy){4-[2,6-terpyridin-4-yl]phenoxy}cyclotriphosphazene (L(2)), and their respective polymeric analogues, L(1P) and L(2P), were synthesized. These ligands were used to form iron(II) complexes with an Fe(II)Terpy(2) core. Variable-temperature resonance Raman, UV-visible, and M?ssbauer spectroscopies with magnetic measurements aided by density functional theory calculations were used to understand the physical characteristics of the complexes. By a comparison of measurements, the polymers were shown to behave in the same way as the cyclotriphosphazene analogues. The results showed that spin crossover (SCO) can be induced to start at high temperatures by extending the spacer length of the ligand to that in L(2) and L(2P); this combination provides a route to forming a malleable SCO material.     

Ligand-driven light-induced spin transition in spin crossover compounds

Spin crossover (SCO) coordination compounds that show bistability between low spin and high spin states are promising light-controllable molecular switches. Selective wavelength irradiation of the coordination centre at low temperatures is known as a light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST effect) and it leads to the modulation of physical properties of SCO materials on the macroscopic as well as on the molecular level. Another way to trigger the spin state conversion by light is based on the isomerization of photoactive ligand moieties. The ligand field strength is changed due to light-induced photoisomerization and, therefore, corresponding cis–trans or ring-closing/ring-opening isomeric couples might exhibit different spin states at isothermal conditions. Such an approach is called as ligand driven light-induced spin change (LD LISC effect). From the application point of view, it presents a promising alternative to the LIESST effect because it can operate at room temperature. This article is focused on the most interesting iron and cobalt SCO compounds with photoisomerizable ligands and provides the overview of achieving results based on the LD LISC effect.     

Synergy between spin crossover and metallophilicity in triple interpenetrated 3D nets with the NbO structure type

Self-assembly of [Ag(CN)2]-, 3-cyanopyridine, and iron(II) gives triple interpenetration of three-dimensional spin crossover (SCO) networks with the NbO topology, which interact each other via argentophilic interactions. Superposition of the networks along the c-axis defines an infinite mosaic of trigonal and hexagonal cross-sectional tubes where water molecules are installed. The structural changes associated with the SCO tune the homoatomic interactions and induce an uncommon change of the lattice volume.     

Spin crossover active iron(II) complexes of selected pyrazole-pyridine/pyrazine ligands

This review begins with a brief introduction to pyrazole and to spin crossover. The focus then moves to a detailed consideration of the synthesis and magnetic properties of structurally characterized iron(II) spin crossover (SCO) active complexes of pyrazole- and pyrazolate-based ligands that also contain at least one pyridine or pyrazine unit within the ligand motif. The syntheses and crystallization methods reported in the original publications are emphasized in this review. The reason for this is that these factors often affect the exact nature of the final product, including the amount and nature of the crystallization solvent molecules present and/or what polymorph is obtained, and hence they can impact strongly on the SCO properties of the resulting materials, as can be seen in this review.     

Influence of CF3 Substituents on the Spin Crossover Behavior of Iron(II) Coordination Polymers with Schiff Base-like Ligands

A Schiff base-like ligand bearing CF₃ substituents was synthesized and converted to iron(II) coordination polymers [{FeL(L_ax)}_n] using five different bridging ligands L_ax. The structure of the coordination polymers was investigated using powder X-ray diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the case of [{FeL(bipy)}_n]. The later revealed an untypical ABAB pattern of alternating equatorial ligands rotated by 180° with regard to each other along the chain. The temperature-dependent magnetic behavior was investigated with a SQUID magnetometer and the spin states at room temperature were confirmed by ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy. Three out of five coordination polymers show spin crossover behavior in the temperature range between 50 and 400 K with different kind of curve progressions (abrupt, gradual, step-wise). The other two coordination polymers are either fully highspin or fully low spin.     

Spin‐Übergänge in supramolekularen Strukturen. Für Speicherbausteine von morgen?

We reported about octahedrally coordinated Fe2+‐complexes, which are able to switch between two stable spin states (LS and HS) with different magnetic properties. This phenomenon is called spin crossover (SCO). The interaction between metal ion and ligand determines the actual spin state and whether an extern stimulus can trigger a spin crossover. Due to this fact it is possible for the chemist through the choice of the ligands to manipulate the character and the temperature region of the SCO. Some metal complexes assemble into highly ordered structures on graphite by molecular self assembly. The substitution of the metal complexes with alkyl chains and the interaction of these chains with the highly ordered graphite is crucial for a periodic arrangement of the complexes on the surface. For the future we are curious to see whether through the cooperative effort of coordination chemistry (SCO phenomenon) and surface science (self assembly of SCO complexes on a surface) the vision of a molecular memory will turn into a reality.     

Guidelines to design new spin crossover materials

This review focuses on new families of spin crossover (SCO) complexes based on polynitrile anions as new anionic ligands or on polyazamacrocycles as neutral macrocyclic ligands. We have shown that the structural and electronic characteristics (original coordination modes and high electronic delocalization) of the polynitrile anions can be tuned by slight chemical modifications such as substitution of functional groups or variation of the negative charge to design new discrete or polymeric SCO systems.In our ongoing work on the design of new molecular systems based on new ligands that can be fine-tuned via chemical modifications, another promising way which has been recently developed in our group concerns the use of new neutral polydentate ligands which are able to tune the ligand field energy around the metal centre. Here we report some recent original Fe(II) SCO complexes based on such polydentate ligands.     

Understanding the two-step spin-transition phenomenon in Iron(II) 1D chain materials

Three analogous one dimensional (1D) polymeric iron(II) spin crossover (SCO) materials containing the new ligand 4,6-bis(2',2'-pyridyl)pyrazine (bdpp) have been comprehensively characterised magnetically (thermal and light-induced) and structurally. Within this series are two polymorphs of the formula [Fe(NCS)(2)(bdpp)], 1 and 2 a, which differ magnetically in that phase 1 undergoes a full two-step SCO (T(1/2(1))=135 K and T(1/2(2))=90 K) whereas phase 2 a remains high spin (HS) over all temperatures. The central distinction between these two materials lies in the presence of intermolecular pi-pi interactions generated by the crystal packing in 1, which are absent in 2 a. The isostructural selenocyanate analogue of 2 a, [Fe(NCSe)(2)(bdpp)], 2 b, undergoes a full two-step SCO (T(1/2(1))=200 K and T(1/2(2))=125 K). Structural analyses of 1 and 2 b at a range of temperatures provide deep insight into their two-step SCO nature. Structural analysis of 1 at 25 K (1(LS-LS)), 123 K (1(LS-HS)) and 250 K (1(HS-HS)) reveals two distinct iron(II) centres at each temperature, with ordered, alternating HS and LS (low spin) sites at the intermediate plateau (IP) temperatures. In contrast, structural analysis of 2 b at 90 K (2 b(LS)), 150 K (2 b(LS/HS)) and 250 K (2 b(HS)) reveals one unique iron(II) centre at each temperature with an "averaged" LS/HS character at the IP temperature. Weak planes of diffuse scattering in the single-crystal X-ray diffraction patterns were observed for this phase at 90 and 150 K, indicating that 1D long range ordering of alternating HS/LS iron(II) centres occurs along the 1D coordination chains, but that there is no correlation between chains. The lack of observable diffuse scattering at 250 K suggests that the onset of the 1D structural ordering in the chain direction corresponds to the first step of the SCO and that this structural transition is electronically driven. The photomagnetic properties of both 1 and 2 b have been investigated and show approximately 62 and 53 % photo-excitation of a HS metastable state at low temperatures and T(LIESST) values of 55 and 49 K, respectively. Relaxation studies on the HS fraction in 2 b fitted well to a stretched exponential model with kinetic parameters indicative of weak cooperativity.     

An Investigation of Photo‐ and Pressure‐Induced Effects in a Pair of Isostructural Two‐Dimensional Spin‐Crossover Framework Materials

Two new isostructural iron(II) spin‐crossover (SCO) framework (SCOF) materials of the type [Fe(dpms)₂(NCX)₂] (dpms=4,4′‐dipyridylmethyl sulfide; X=S ( SCOF‐6(S) ), X=Se ( SCOF‐6(Se) )) have been synthesized. The 2D framework materials consist of undulating and interpenetrated rhomboid (4,4) nets. SCOF‐6(S) displays an incomplete SCO transition with only approximately 30 % conversion of high‐spin (HS) to low‐spin iron(II) sites over the temperature range 300–4 K (T_1/2=75 K). In contrast, the NCSe^? analogue, SCOF‐6(Se) , displays a complete SCO transition (T_1/2=135 K). Photomagnetic characterizations reveal quantitative light‐ induced excited spin‐state trapping (LIESST) of metastable HS iron(II) sites at 10 K. The temperature at which the photoinduced stored information is erased is 58 and 50 K for SCOF‐6(S) and SCOF‐6(Se) , respectively. Variable‐pressure magnetic measurements were performed on SCOF‐6(S) , revealing that with increasing pressure both the T_1/2 value and the extent of spin conversion are increased; with pressures exceeding 5.2 kbar a complete thermal transition is achieved. This study confirms that kinetic trapping effects are responsible for hindering a complete thermally induced spin transition in SCOF‐6(S) at ambient pressure due to an interplay between close T_1/2 and T(LIESST) values.     

Heterometallic FeIII/K Coordination Polymer with a Wide Thermal Hysteretic Spin Transition at Room Temperature

The anionic Fe^III complex exhibiting cooperative spin transition with a wide thermal hysteresis near room temperature, K[Fe(5‐Brthsa)₂] (5‐Brthsa‐H₂=5‐bromosalicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone), is reported. The hysteresis (Δ=69 K in the first cycle) shows a one‐step transition in heating mode and a two‐step transition in cooling mode. X‐ray structure analysis showed that the coexistence of hydrogen bond and cation–π interactions, as well as alkali metal coordination bonds, to give 2D coordination polymer structure. This result is contrary to previous reports of broad thermal hysteresis induced by coordination bonds of Fe^II spin crossover coordination polymers (with 1D/3D structures), and by strong intermolecular interactions in the molecular packing through π–π stacking or hydrogen‐bond networks. As a consequence, the importance, or the very good suitability of alkali metal‐based coordination bonds and cation–π interactions for communicating cooperative interactions in spin‐crossover (SCO) compounds must be reconsidered.     

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.     

Polynitrile anions as ligands: From magnetic polymeric architectures to spin crossover materials

The use of polynitrile anions as ligands (L) either alone or in combination with neutral co-ligands (L′) is a very promising and appealing strategy to get molecular architectures with different topologies and dimensionalities thanks to their ability to coordinate and bridge metal ions in many different ways. The presence of several potentially coordinating nitrile groups (or even other donor groups as –OH, –SH or –NH₂), their rigidity and their electronic delocalization allow the synthesis of original magnetic high dimensional coordination polymers with transition metals ions. Furthermore, these ligands have shown coordinating and bridging capabilities in novel discrete and polymeric bistable materials (materials showing original magnetic behaviours or spin crossover (SCO) transitions). Here we report an overview of the results obtained with some of these modified polynitrile ligands, showing their rich coordination chemistry and their crucial role in new molecular materials exhibiting unusual magnetic transitions.     

Fe(II) Spin Crossover/Polymer Hybrid Materials: Investigation of the SCO Behavior via Temperature-Dependent Raman Spectroscopy,Physicochemical Characterization and Migration Release Study

Polymeric composites constitute an appealing class of materials with applications in various fields. Spin crossover (SCO) coordination complexes are switchable materials with potential use in data storage and sensors. Their incorporation into polymers can be considered an effective method for their wider practical application. In this study, Fe(II) SCO/polylactic acid hybrid polymeric composites have been prepared by film casting. The mononuclear coordination complex [Fe{N(CN)₂}₂(abpt)₂] was incorporated into polylactic acid. The morphological, structural and thermoanalytical characterization of the composite films were performed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance (ATR/FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the migration release study (MRS) of the SCO compound from the polymeric matrix into the food simulant 50% v/v water/ethanol solution was also examined via UV/Vis absorption. Of particular interest was the investigation of the SCO behavior of the coordination complex after its incorporation into the polymer matrix; it was accomplished by temperature-dependent micro-Raman spectroscopy. The described attempt could be considered a preparatory step toward the development of SCO-based temperature sensors integrated into food packaging materials.     

Structure-function correlations in Iron(II) tris(pyrazolyl)borate spin-state crossover complexes

Iron(II) poly(pyrazolyl)borate complexes have been investigated to determine the impact of substituent effects, intramolecular ligand distortions, and intermolecular supramolecular structures on the spin-state crossover (SCO) behavior. The molecular structure of Fe[HB(3,4,5-Me3pz)3]2 (pz = pyrazolyl ring), a complex known to remain high spin when the temperature is lowered, reveals that this complex has an intramolecular ring-twist distortion that is not observed in analogous complexes that do exhibit a SCO at low temperatures, thus indicating that this distortion greatly influences the properties of these complexes. The structure of Fe[B(3-(cy)Prpz)4]2.(CH3OH) ((cy)Pr = cyclopropyl ring) at 294 K has two independent molecules in the unit cell, both of which are high spin; only one of these high-spin iron(II) sites, the site with the lesser ring-twist distortion, is observed to be low-spin iron(II) in the 90 K structure. A careful evaluation of the supramolecular structures of these complexes and several similar complexes reported previously revealed no strong correlation between the supramolecular packing forces and their SCO behavior. Magnetic and M?ssbauer spectral measurements on Fe[B(3-(cy)Prpz)4]2 and Fe[HB(3-(cy)Prpz)3]2 indicate that both complexes exhibit a partial SCO from fully high-spin iron(II) at higher temperatures, respectively, to a 50:50 high-spin/low-spin mixture of iron(II) below 100 K. These results may be understood, in the former case, by the differences in ring-twisting and, in the latter case, by a phase transition; in all complexes in which a phase transition is observed, this change dominates the SCO behavior. A comparison of the M?ssbauer spectral properties of these two complexes and of Fe[HB(3-Mepz)3]2 with that of other complexes reveals correlations between the M?ssbauer-effect isomer shift and the average Fe-N bond distance and between the quadrupole splitting and the average FeN-NB intraligand dihedral torsion angles and the distortion of the average N-Fe-N intraligand bond angles.     

Structural and magnetic resolution of a two-step full spin-crossover transition in a dinuclear iron(II) pyridyl-bridged compound

A dinuclear iron(II) complex containing the new pyridyl bridging ligand, 2,5-di(2',2'-dipyridylamino)pyridine (ddpp) has been synthesised and characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility and M?ssbauer spectral methods. This compound, [Fe(2)(ddpp)(2)(NCS)(4)]4 CH(2)Cl(2), undergoes a two-step full spin crossover. Structural analysis at each of the three plateau temperatures has revealed a dinuclear molecule with spin states HS-HS, HS-LS and LS-LS (HS: high spin, LS: low spin) for the two iron(II) centres. This is the first time that resolution of the metal centres in a HS-LS ordered state has been achieved in a two-step dinuclear iron(II) spin-crossover compound. Thermogravimetric data show that the dichloromethane solvate molecules can be removed in two distinct steps at 120 degrees C and 200 degrees C. The partially de-solvated clathrate, [Fe(2)(ddpp)(2)(NCS)(4)]CH(2)Cl(2), undergoes a one-step transition with an increased transition temperature with respect to the as synthesised material. Structural characterisation of this material reveals subtle changes to the coordination geometries at each of the iron(II) centres and striking changes to the local environment of the dinuclear complex. The fully de-solvated material remains high spin over all temperatures. Interestingly, the solvent can be re-introduced into the monosolvated solid to achieve complete conversion back to the original two-step crossover material, [Fe(2)(ddpp)(2)(NCS)(4)]4 CH(2)Cl(2).     

Tuning the transition temperature and cooperativity of bapbpy-based mononuclear spin-crossover compounds: interplay between molecular and crystal engineering

In this study, we show that 1) different isomers of the same mononuclear iron(II) complex give materials with different spin‐crossover (hereafter SCO) properties, and 2) minor modifications of the bapbpy (bapbpy=N6,N6′‐di(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐6,6′‐diamine) ligand allows SCO to be obtained near room temperature. We also provide a qualitative model to understand the link between the structure of bapbpy‐based ligands and the SCO properties of their iron(II) compounds. Thus, seven new trans‐[Fe{R₂(bapbpy)}(NCS)₂] compounds were prepared, in which the R₂bapbpy ligand bears picoline ( 9 – 12 ), quin‐2‐oline ( 13 ), isoquin‐3‐oline ( 14 ), or isoquin‐1‐oline ( 15 ) substituents. From this series, three compounds ( 12 , 14 , and 15 ) have SCO properties, one of which ( 15 ) occurs at 288 K. The crystal structures of compounds 11 , 12 , and 15 show that the intermolecular interactions in these materials are similar to those found in the parent compound [Fe(bapbpy)(NCS)₂] ( 1 ), in which each iron complex interacts with its neighbors through weak N? H ??? S hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking. For compounds 12 and 15 , hindering groups located near the N? H bridges weaken the N? S intermolecular interactions, which is correlated to non‐cooperative SCO. For compound 14 , the substitution is further away from the N? H bridges, and the SCO remains cooperative as in 1 with a hysteresis cycle. Optical microscopy photographs show the strikingly different spatio‐temporal evolution of the phase transition in the noncooperative SCO compound 12 relative to that found in 1 . Heat‐capacity measurements were made for compounds 1 , 12 , 14 , and 15 and fitted to the Sorai domain model. The number n of like‐spin SCO centers per interacting domain, which is related to the cooperativity of the spin transition, was found high for compounds 1 and 14 and low for compounds 12 and 15 . Finally, we found that although both pairs of compounds 11 / 12 and 14 / 15 are pairs of isomers their SCO properties are surprisingly different.     

Single-crystal to single-crystal structural transformation and photomagnetic properties of a porous iron(II) spin-crossover framework

The porous coordination framework material, Fe(NCS)2(bped)2 x 3EtOH, SCOF-3(Et) (where bped is dl-1,2-bis(4'-pyridyl)-1,2-ethanediol), displays a spin-crossover (SCO) transition that has been stimulated both thermally and by light irradiation. The one-step thermal SCO (70-180 K) is sensitive to the presence of molecular guests, with a more gradual transition (70-225 K) apparent following the desorption of ethanol molecules that hydrogen bond to the spin centers. Additional intraframework hydrogen-bonding interactions stabilize the vacant one-dimensional pore structure of the apohost, SCOF-3, despite a dramatic single-crystal to single-crystal (SC-SC) structural change upon removal of the guests. Comprehensive structural analyses throughout this transformation, from primitive orthorhombic (Pccn) to body-centered tetragonal (I4/mcm), reveal a flexing of the framework and a dilation of the channels, with an accompanying subtle distortion of the iron(II) coordination geometry. Photomagnetic measurements of the light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect have been used to assess the degree of cooperativity in this system.     

Supramolecular isomerism in spin crossover networks with aurophilic interactions

Assembly of Fe(II), 3-cyanopyridine and [Au(CN)2](-) affords, in one-pot reaction, three coordination polymers that represent a genuine example of supramolecular isomerism with strong influence in the spin crossover regime of the Fe(II) ions.