Structural Transformations and Spin-Crossover in [FeL2]2+ Salts (L=4-{tert-Butylsulfanyl}-2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}pyridine): The Influence of Bulky Ligand Substituents

4-(tert-Butylsulfanyl)-2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (L) was obtained in low yield from a one-pot reaction of 2,4,6-trifluoropyridine with 2-methylpropane-2-thiolate and sodium pyrazolate in a 1:1:2 ratio. The materials [FeL₂][BF₄]₂⋅solv ( 1[BF₄]₂ ⋅solv) and [FeL₂][ClO₄]₂⋅solv ( 1[ClO₄]₂ ⋅solv; solv=MeNO₂, MeCN or Me₂CO) exhibit a variety of structures and spin-state behaviors including thermal spin-crossover (SCO). Solvent loss on heating 1[BF₄]₂ ⋅x MeNO₂ (x≈2.3) occurs in two steps. The intermediate phase exhibits hysteretic SCO around 250 K, involving a “reverse-SCO” step in its warming cycle at a scan rate of 5 K min⁻¹. The reverse-SCO is not observed in a slower 1 K min⁻¹ measurement, however, confirming its kinetic nature. The final product [FeL₂][BF₄]₂⋅0.75 MeNO₂ was crystallographically characterized, and shows abrupt but incomplete SCO at 172 K which correlates with disorder of an L ligand. The asymmetric unit of 1[BF₄]₂ ⋅y Me₂CO (y≈1.6) contains five unique complex molecules, four of which undergo gradual SCO in at least two discrete steps. Low-spin 1[ClO₄]₂ ⋅0.5 Me₂CO is not isostructural with its BF₄⁻ congener, and undergoes single-crystal-to-single-crystal solvent loss with a tripling of the crystallographic unit cell volume, while retaining the P space group. Three other solvate salts undergo gradual thermal SCO. Two of these are isomorphous at room temperature, but transform to different low-temperature phases when the materials are fully low-spin.     

Solvent Dependent Spin‐Crossover and Photomagnetic Properties in an Imidazolylimine FeII Complex

The synthesis and physico‐chemical characterization of an Fe^II complex [Fe( L1 )₃](ClO₄)₂?CH₃CN?0.5H₂O, 1 , incorporating a bidentate imidazolylimine‐based ligand are reported. Complex 1 crystallises as the mer‐isomer and the crystal lattice is replete with hydrogen bonding interactions between ClO₄^? anions, solvent molecules and imidazole N‐H groups. Variable‐temperature structural, magnetic, photomagnetic and optical reflectivity techniques have been deployed to fully characterise the spin‐crossover (SCO) behaviour in 1 along with its desolvated phase, 1?desolv . Variable‐temperature (1.8–300 K) magnetic‐susceptibility measurements reveal a broad two‐step full SCO for 1 (T_1/2=158 and 184 K) and photomagnetic experiments at 10 K under white‐light irradiation revealed complete photo‐induced SCO. 1?desolv displays considerably different magnetic behaviour with sharp single‐step SCO accompanied by a thermal hysteresis (T_1/2↑=105 K, T_1/2↓=95 K) in addition to full photo‐induced SCO at lower temperatures.     

FeIII Quinolylsalicylaldimine Complexes: A Rare Mixed‐Spin‐State Complex and Abrupt Spin Crossover

A new synthesis of (8‐quinolyl)‐5‐methoxysalicylaldimine (Hqsal‐5‐OMe) is reported and its crystal structure is presented. Two Fe^III complexes, [Fe(qsal‐5‐OMe)₂]Cl ? solvent (solvent=2 MeOH ? 0.5 H₂O ( 1 ) and MeCN ? H₂O ( 2 )) have been prepared and their structural, electronic and magnetic properties studied. [Fe(qsal‐5‐OMe)₂] Cl ? 2 MeOH ? 0.5 H₂O ( 1 ) exhibits rare crystallographically independent high‐spin and low‐spin Fe^III centres at 150 K, whereas [Fe(qsal‐5‐OMe)₂]Cl ? MeCN ? H₂O ( 2 ) is low spin at 100 K. In both structures there are extensive π–π and C? H???π interactions. SQUID magnetometry of 2 reveals an unusual abrupt stepped‐spin crossover with T_1/2=245 K and 275 K for steps 1 and 2, respectively, with a slight hysteresis of 5 K in the first step and a plateau of 15 K between the steps. In contrast, 1 is found to undergo an abrupt half‐spin crossover also with a hysteresis of 10 K. The two compounds are the first Fe^III complexes of a substituted qsal ligand to exhibit abrupt spin crossover. These conclusions are supported by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Both complexes exhibit reversible reduction to Fe^II at ?0.18 V and irreversible oxidation of the coordinated qsal‐5‐OMe ligand at +1.10 V.     

Decoupled Spin Crossover and Structural Phase Transition in a Molecular Iron(II) Complex

Crystalline [Fe(bppSMe)₂][BF₄]₂ ( 1 ; bppSMe=4‐(methylsulfanyl)‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine) undergoes an abrupt spin‐crossover (SCO) event at 265±5 K. The crystals also undergo a separate phase transition near 205 K, involving a contraction of the unit‐cell a axis to one‐third of its original value (high‐temperature phase 1; Pbcn, Z=12; low‐temperature phase 2; Pbcn, Z=4). The SCO‐active phase 1 contains two unique molecular environments, one of which appears to undergo SCO more gradually than the other. In contrast, powder samples of 1 retain phase 1 between 140–300 K, although their SCO behaviour is essentially identical to the single crystals. The compounds [Fe(bppBr)₂][BF₄]₂ ( 2 ; bppBr=4‐bromo‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine) and [Fe(bppI)₂][BF₄]₂ ( 3 ; bppI=4‐iodo‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐pyridine) exhibit more gradual SCO near room temperature, and adopt phase 2 in both spin states. Comparison of 1 – 3 reveals that the more cooperative spin transition in 1 , and its separate crystallographic phase transition, can both be attributed to an intermolecular steric interaction involving the methylsulfanyl substituents. All three compounds exhibit the light‐induced excited‐spin‐state trapping (LIESST) effect with T(LIESST=70–80 K), but show complicated LIESST relaxation kinetics involving both weakly cooperative (exponential) and strongly cooperative (sigmoidal) components.     

Heteroleptic FeII Complexes of 2,2′‐Biimidazole and Its Alkylated Derivatives: Spin‐Crossover and Photomagnetic Behavior

Three iron(II) complexes, [Fe(TPMA)(BIM)](ClO₄)₂?0.5H₂O ( 1 ), [Fe(TPMA)(XBIM)](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 ), and [Fe(TPMA)(XBBIM)](ClO₄)₂ ?0.75CH₃OH ( 3 ), were prepared by reactions of Fe^II perchlorate and the corresponding ligands (TPMA=tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine, BIM=2,2′‐biimidazole, XBIM=1,1′‐(α,α′‐o‐xylyl)‐2,2′‐biimidazole, XBBIM=1,1′‐(α,α′‐o‐xylyl)‐2,2′‐bibenzimidazole). The compounds were investigated by a combination of X‐ray crystallography, magnetic and photomagnetic measurements, and Mössbauer and optical absorption spectroscopy. Complex 1 exhibits a gradual spin crossover (SCO) with T_1/2=190 K, whereas 2 exhibits an abrupt SCO with approximately 7 K thermal hysteresis (T_1/2=196 K on cooling and 203 K on heating). Complex 3 is in the high‐spin state in the 2–300 K range. The difference in the magnetic behavior was traced to differences between the inter‐ and intramolecular interactions in 1 and 2 . The crystal packing of 2 features a hierarchy of intermolecular interactions that result in increased cooperativity and abruptness of the spin transition. In 3 , steric repulsion between H atoms of one of the pyridyl substituents of TPMA and one of the benzene rings of XBBIM results in a strong distortion of the Fe^II coordination environment, which stabilizes the high‐spin state of the complex. Both 1 and 2 exhibit a photoinduced low‐spin to high‐spin transition (LIESST effect) at 5 K. The difference in the character of intermolecular interactions of 1 and 2 also manifests in the kinetics of the decay of the photoinduced high‐spin state. For 1 , the decay rate constant follows the single‐exponential law, whereas for 2 it is a stretched exponential, reflecting the hierarchical nature of intermolecular contacts. The structural parameters of the photoinduced high‐spin state at 50 K are similar to those determined for the high‐spin state at 295 K. This study shows that N‐alkylation of BIM has a negligible effect on the ligand field strength. Therefore, the combination of TPMA and BIM offers a promising ligand platform for the design of functionalized SCO complexes.     

Optimization of crystal packing in semiconducting spin-crossover materials with fractionally charged TCNQδ− anions (0 < δ < 1)

Co-crystallization of the prominent Fe(ii) spin-crossover (SCO) cation, [Fe(3-bpp)₂]²⁺ (3-bpp = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine), with a fractionally charged TCNQ^δ− radical anion has afforded a hybrid complex [Fe(3-bpp)₂](TCNQ)₃·5MeCN (1·5MeCN, where δ = −0.67). The partially desolvated material shows semiconducting behavior, with the room temperature conductivity σ_RT = 3.1 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹, and weak modulation of conducting properties in the region of the spin transition. The complete desolvation, however, results in the loss of hysteretic behavior and a very gradual SCO that spans the temperature range of 200 K. A related complex with integer-charged TCNQ⁻ anions, [Fe(3-bpp)₂](TCNQ)₂·3MeCN (2·3MeCN), readily loses the interstitial solvent to afford desolvated complex 2 that undergoes an abrupt and hysteretic spin transition centered at 106 K, with an 11 K thermal hysteresis. Complex 2 also exhibits a temperature-induced excited spin-state trapping (TIESST) effect, upon which a metastable high-spin state is trapped by flash-cooling from room temperature to 10 K. Heating above 85 K restores the ground-state low-spin configuration. An approach to improve the structural stability of such complexes is demonstrated by using a related ligand 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2′-yl)pyridine (bzimpy) to obtain [Fe(bzimpy)₂](TCNQ)₆·2Me₂CO (4) and [Fe(bzimpy)₂](TCNQ)₅·5MeCN (5), both of which exist as LS complexes up to 400 K and exhibit semiconducting behavior, with σ_RT = 9.1 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ and 1.8 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹, respectively.

Co-crystallization of the cationic complex [Fe(3-bpp)2]²⁺ with fractionally charged TCNQ^δ− anions (0 < δ < 1) affords semiconducting spin-crossover (SCO) materials. The abruptness of SCO is strongly dependent on the interstitial solvent content.     

Two‐Step Spin Transition in a 1D FeII 1,2,4‐Triazole Chain Compound

A thermochromic 1D spin crossover coordination (SCO) polymer [Fe(βAlatrz)₃](BF₄)₂ ? 2 H₂O ( 1? 2 H₂O), whose precursor βAlatrz, (1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl‐propionate) has been tailored from a β‐amino acid ester is investigated in detail by a set of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared, and Raman measurements. An hysteretic abrupt two‐step spin crossover (T_1/2^↓=230 K and T_1/2^↑=235 K, and T_1/2^↓=172 K and T_1/2^↑=188 K, respectively) is registered for the first time for a 1,2,4‐triazole‐based Fe^II 1D coordination polymer. The two‐step SCO configuration is observed in a 1:2 ratio of low‐spin/high‐spin in the intermediate phase for a 1D chain. The origin of the stepwise transition was attributed to a distribution of chains of different lengths in 1? 2 H₂O after First Order Reversal Curves (FORC) analyses. A detailed DFT analysis allowed us to propose the normal mode assignment of the Raman peaks in the low‐spin and high‐spin states of 1? 2 H₂O. Vibrational spectra of 1? 2 H₂O reveal that the BF₄^? anions and water molecules play no significant role on the vibrational properties of the [Fe(βAlatrz)₃]²⁺ polymeric chains, although non‐coordinated water molecules have a dramatic influence on the emergence of a step in the spin transition curve. The dehydrated material [Fe(βAlatrz)₃](BF₄)₂ ( 1 ) reveals indeed a significantly different magnetic behavior with a one‐step SCO which was also investigated.     

Stabilization of the Low‐Spin State in a Mononuclear Iron(II) Complex and High‐Temperature Cooperative Spin Crossover Mediated by Hydrogen Bonding

The tetrapyridyl ligand bbpya (bbpya=N,N‐bis(2,2′‐bipyrid‐6‐yl)amine) and its mononuclear coordination compound [Fe(bbpya)(NCS)₂] ( 1 ) were prepared. According to magnetic susceptibility, differential scanning calorimetry fitted to Sorai’s domain model, and powder X‐ray diffraction measurements, 1 is low‐spin at room temperature, and it exhibits spin crossover (SCO) at an exceptionally high transition temperature of T_1/2=418 K. Although the SCO of compound 1 spans a temperature range of more than 150 K, it is characterized by a wide (21 K) and dissymmetric hysteresis cycle, which suggests cooperativity. The crystal structure of the LS phase of compound 1 shows strong N?H???S intermolecular H‐bonding interactions that explain, at least in part, the cooperative SCO behavior observed for complex 1 . DFT and CASPT2 calculations under vacuum demonstrate that the bbpya ligand generates a stronger ligand field around the iron(II) core than its analogue bapbpy (N,N′‐di(pyrid‐2‐yl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐6,6′‐diamine); this stabilizes the LS state and destabilizes the HS state in 1 compared with [Fe(bapbpy)(NCS)₂] ( 2 ). Periodic DFT calculations suggest that crystal‐packing effects are significant for compound 2 , in which they destabilize the HS state by about 1500 cm^?1. The much lower transition temperature found for the SCO of 2 compared to 1 appears to be due to the combined effects of the different ligand field strengths and crystal packing.     

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.     

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.     

Thermal‐ and Light‐Induced Spin Crossover in a Guest‐Dependent Dinuclear Iron(II) System

We previously reported the dinuclear material [Fe^II₂(ddpp)₂(NCS)₄] ? 4 CH₂Cl₂ ( 1? 4 CH₂Cl₂; ddpp=2,5‐di(2′,2′′‐dipyridylamino)pyridine) and its partially desolvated analogue ( 1? CH₂Cl₂), which undergo two‐ and one‐step spin‐crossover (SCO) transitions, respectively. Here, we manipulate the type and degree of solvation in this system and find that either a one‐ or two‐step spin transition can be specifically targeted. The chloroform clathrate 1? 4 CHCl₃ undergoes a relatively abrupt one‐step SCO, in which the two equivalent Fe^II sites within the dinuclear molecule crossover simultaneously. Partial desolvation of 1? 4 CHCl₃ to form 1? 3 CHCl₃ and 1? CHCl₃ occurs through single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal processes (monoclinic C2/c to P2₁/n to P2₁/n) in which the two equivalent Fe^II sites become inequivalent sites within the dinuclear molecule of each phase. Both 1? 3 CHCl₃ and 1? CHCl₃ undergo one‐step spin transitions, with the former having a significantly higher SCO temperature than 1? 4 CHCl₃ and the latter, and each has a broader SCO transition than 1? 4 CHCl₃, attributable to the overlap of two SCO steps in each case. Further magnetic manipulation can be carried out on these materials through reversibly resolvating the partially desolvated material with chloroform to produce the original one‐step SCO, or with dichloromethane to produce a two‐step SCO reminiscent of that seen for 1? 4 CH₂Cl₂. Furthermore, we investigate the light‐induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect on 1? 4 CH₂Cl₂ and 1? CH₂Cl₂ and observe partial LIESST activity for the former and no activity for the latter.     

Coupled crystallographic order-disorder and spin state in a bistable molecule: multiple transition dynamics

A novel bispyrazolylpyridine ligand incorporating lateral phenol groups, H₄L, has led to an Fe^II spin‐crossover (SCO) complex, [Fe(H₄L)₂][ClO₄]₂ ? H₂O ? 2 (CH₃)₂CO ( 1 ), with an intricate network of intermolecular interactions. It exhibits a 40 K wide hysteresis of magnetization as a result of the spin transition (with T_0.5 of 133 and 173 K) and features an unsymmetrical and very rich structure. The latter is a consequence of the coupling between the SCO and the crystallographic transformations. The high‐spin state may also be thermally trapped, exhibiting a very large T_TIESST (≈104 K). The structure of 1 has been determined at various temperatures after submitting the crystal to different processes to recreate the key points of the hysteresis cycle and thermal trapping; 200 K, cooled to 150 K and trapped at 100 K (high spin, HS), slowly cooled to 100 K and warmed to 150 K (low spin, LS). In the HS state, the system always exhibits disorder for some components (one ClO₄^? and two acetone molecules) whereas the LS phases show a relative ≈9 % reduction in the Fe? N bond lengths and anisotropic contraction of the unit cell. Most importantly, in the LS state all the species are always found to be ordered. Therefore, the bistability of crystallographic order–disorder coupled to SCO is demonstrated here experimentally for the first time. The variation in the cell parameters in 1 also exhibits hysteresis. The structural and magnetic thermal variations in this compound are paralleled by changes in the heat capacity as measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Attempts to simulate the asymmetric SCO behaviour of 1 by using an Ising‐like model underscore the paramount role of dynamics in the coupling between the SCO and the crystallographic transitions.     

Reversible Guest Binding in a Non‐Porous FeII Coordination Polymer Host Toggles Spin Crossover

Formation of either a dimetallic compound or a 1 D coordination polymer of adiponitrile adducts of [Fe(bpte)]²⁺ (bpte=[1,2‐bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)thio]ethane) can be controlled by the choice of counteranion. The iron(II) atoms of the bis(adiponitrile)‐bridged dimeric complex [Fe₂(bpte)₂(μ₂‐(NC(CH₂)₄CN)₂](SbF₆)₄ ( 2 ) are low spin at room temperature, as are those in the polymeric adiponitrile‐linked acetone solvate polymer {[Fe(bpte)(μ₂‐NC(CH₂)₄CN)](BPh₄)₂ ? Me₂CO} ( 3? Me₂CO). On heating 3? Me₂CO to 80 °C, the acetone is abruptly removed with an accompanying purple to dull lavender colour change corresponding to a conversion to a high‐spin compound. Cooling reveals that the desolvate 3 shows hysteretic and abrupt spin crossover (SCO) S=0?S=2 behaviour centred at 205 K. Non‐porous 3 can reversibly absorb one equivalent of acetone per iron centre to regenerate the same crystalline phase of 3? Me₂CO concurrently reinstating a low‐spin state.     

CO2‐Induced Spin‐State Switching at Room Temperature in a Monomeric Cobalt(II) Complex with the Porous Nature

CO₂‐responsive spin‐state conversion between high‐spin (HS) and low‐spin (LS) states at room temperature was achieved in a monomeric cobalt(II) complex. A neutral cobalt(II) complex, [Co^II(COO‐terpy)₂]?4 H₂O ( 1?4 H₂O ), stably formed cavities generated via π–π stacking motifs and hydrogen bond networks, resulting in the accommodation of four water molecules. Crystalline 1?4 H₂O transformed to solvent‐free 1 without loss of porosity by heating to 420 K. Compound 1 exhibited a selective CO₂ adsorption via a gate‐open type of the structural modification. Furthermore, the HS/LS transition temperature (T_1/2) was able to be tuned by the CO₂ pressure over a wide temperature range. Unlike 1 exhibits the HS state at 290 K, the CO₂‐accomodated form 1?CO₂ (P =110 kPa) was stabilized in the LS state at 290 K, probably caused by a chemical pressure effect by CO₂ accommodation, which provides reversible spin‐state conversion by introducing/evacuating CO₂ gas into/from 1 .     

Guest-Dependent Pressure-Induced Spin Crossover in FeII4[MIV(CN)8]2 (M=Mo,W) Cluster-Based Material Showing Persistent Solvent-Driven Structural Transformations

Discrete molecular species that can perform certain functions in response to multiple external stimuli constitute a special class of multifunctional molecular materials called smart molecules. Herein, cyanido-bridged coordination clusters {[Fe^II(2-pyrpy)₂]₄[M^IV(CN)₈]₂} ⋅ 4 MeOH ⋅ 6 H₂O (M=Mo ( 1 solv ), M=W ( 2 solv ) and 2-pyrpy=2-(1-pyrazolyl)pyridine are presented, which show persistent solvent driven single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations upon sorption/desorption of water and methanol molecules. Three full desolvation–resolvation cycles with the concomitant change of the host molecules do not damage the single crystals. More importantly, the Fe₄M₂ molecules constitute a unique example where the presence of the guests directly affects the pressure-induced thermal spin crossover (SCO) phenomenon occurring at the Fe^II centres. The hydrated phases show a partial SCO with approximately two out-of-four Fe^II centres undergoing a gradual thermal SCO at 1 GPa, while in the anhydrous form the pressure-induced SCO effect is almost quenched with only 15 % of the Fe^II centres undergoing high-spin to low-spin transition at 1 GPa.     

Synthesis,Magnetic Properties and X‐ray Structure Analysis of a 1‐D Chain Iron(II) Spin Crossover Complex with wide Hysteresis

The reaction of [FeL(MeOH)₂] (L being a tetradentate [N₂O₂]^2? coordinating Schiff base like ligand [([3,3′]‐[1,2‐phenylenebis(iminomethylidyne)]bis(2,4‐pentane‐dionato)(2‐)N,N′,O²,O²′], MeOH = methanol) with 4,4′‐bipyridine (bipy) results in the formation of a new iron(II ) spin crossover coordination polymer of the formula [FeL(bipy)] ( 1 ). T‐dependent susceptibility measurements revealed an abrupt HS ? LS spin transition with an approximately 18 K‐wide thermal hysteresis loop (T_1/2↑ = 237 K and T_1/2↓ = 219 K). The isolation of crystals suitable for X‐ray structure analysis allowed the determination of the motive of the molecule structure of the first 1‐D chain compound with hysteresis in the HS form at 250 K. Despite the low qualtity of the data, we were able to obtain some insight into the interplay of covalent and elastic interactions that are both responsible for the high cooperative interactions during the spin transition in this compound.     

Electronic Structure Modulation in an Exceptionally Stable Non‐Heme Nitrosyl Iron(II) Spin‐Crossover Complex

The highly stable nitrosyl iron(II) mononuclear complex [Fe(bztpen)(NO)](PF₆)₂ (bztpen=N‐benzyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine) displays an S=1/2?S=3/2 spin crossover (SCO) behavior (T_1/2=370 K, ΔH=12.48 kJ mol^?1, ΔS=33 J K^?1 mol^?1) stemming from strong magnetic coupling between the NO radical (S=1/2) and thermally interconverted (S=0?S=2) ferrous spin states. The crystal structure of this robust complex has been investigated in the temperature range 120–420 K affording a detailed picture of how the electronic distribution of the t_2g–e_g orbitals modulates the structure of the {FeNO}⁷ bond, providing valuable magneto–structural and spectroscopic correlations and DFT analysis.     

A Two‐Dimensional Iron(II) Coordination Polymer with Synergetic Spin‐Crossover and Luminescent Properties

A composite material, {[Fe(L)(TPPE)_0.5]?3 CH₃OH}_n, has been constructed by integrating the spin‐crossover (SCO) subunit Fe^II{diethyl(E,E)‐2,2′‐[1,2‐phenyl‐bis(iminomethylidyne)]bis(3‐oxobutanoate)‐(2‐)‐N,N′,O³,O³′} and the highly luminescent connector 1,1,2,2‐tetrakis(4‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)phenyl)‐ethene. Its structure contains four staggered 4×4 layers and intercalated methanol. The packing is dominated by considerable H‐bonds either between adjacent layers and between layers and guests. A crystal‐structure transformation was detected upon removal of the guest molecules. The SCO transition of the solvated crystals is centered at ca. 215 K with a non‐symmetrical hysteresis of 25 K wide, and the desolvated [Fe(L)(TPPE)_0.5]_n exhibits gradual SCO without hysteresis. Intriguingly, the intensity of the fluorescence at 460 nm for the latter is maximized at the SCO transition. The energy transfer between luminescent and SCO entities is achievable as confirmed by theoretical calculations.     

A Brønsted‐Ligand‐Based Iron Complex as a Molecular Switch with Five Accessible States

A mononuclear Fe^II complex, prepared with a Brønsted diacid ligand, H₂L (H₂L=2‐[5‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐3‐yl] 6‐benzimidazole pyridine), shows switchable physical properties and was isolated in five different electronic states. The spin crossover (SCO) complex, [Fe^II(H₂L)₂](BF₄)₂ ( 1_A ), exhibits abrupt spin transition at T_1/2=258 K, and treatment with base yields a deprotonated analogue [Fe^II(HL)₂] ( 1_B ), which shows gradual SCO above 350 K. A range of Fe^III analogues were also characterized. [Fe^III(HL)(H₂L)](BF₄)Cl ( 1_C ) has an S=5/2 spin state, while the deprotonated complexes [Fe^III(L)(HL)], ( 1_D ), and (TEA)[Fe^III(L)₂], ( 1_E ) exist in the low‐spin S=1/2 state. The electronic properties of the five complexes were fully characterized and we demonstrate in situ switching between multiple states in both solution and the solid‐state. The versatility of this simple mononuclear system illustrates how proton donor/acceptor ligands can vastly increase the range of accessible states in switchable molecular devices.     

A Sequential Method to Prepare Polymorphs and Solvatomorphs of [Fe(1,3‐bpp)2](ClO4)2⋅nH2O (n=0, 1, 2) with Varying Spin‐Crossover Behaviour

Two polymorphs of the spin crossover (SCO) compound [Fe(1,3‐bpp)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 and 2 ; 1,3‐bpp=2‐(pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐6‐(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine) were prepared using a novel, stepwise procedure. Crystals of 1 deposit from dry solvents, while 2 is obtained from a solid‐state procedure, by sequentially removing lattice H₂O molecules from the solvatomorph [Fe(1,3‐bpp)₂](ClO₄)₂?2 H₂O ( 2 ?2 H₂O), using single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) transformations. Hydrate 2 ?2 H₂O is obtained through the same reaction as 1 , now with 2.5 % of water added. Compounds 2 and 2 ?2 H₂O are unstable in the atmosphere and absorb or lose one equivalent of water, respectively, to both yield the stable solvatomorph [Fe(1,3‐bpp)₂](ClO₄)₂?H₂O ( 2 ?H₂O), also following SCSC processes. The four derivatives have been characterised by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD). Furthermore, the homogeneity of the various compounds as well as their SCSC interconversions have been confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD). Polymorphs 1 and 2 exhibit abrupt SCO behaviour near room temperature with T_1/2↑=279/316 K and T_1/2↓=276/314 K (near 40 K of shift) and different cooperativity.