Light‐Induced Bidirectional Metal‐to‐Metal Charge Transfer in a Linear Fe2Co Complex

It is a challenge to reversibly switch both magnetism and polarity using light irradiation. Herein we report a linear Fe₂Co complex, whereby interconversion between Fe^III_LS(μ‐CN)Co^II_HS(μ‐NC)Fe^III_LS (LS=low‐spin, HS=high‐spin) and Fe^III_LS(μ‐CN)Co^III_LS(μ‐NC)Fe^II_LS linkages could be achieved upon heating and cooling, or alternating laser irradiation at 808 and 532 nm. The electron spin arrangement and charge distribution were simultaneously tuned accompanying bidirectional metal‐to‐metal charge transfer, providing switchable polarity and magnetism in the complex.     

Structure Switching and Modulation of the Magnetic Properties in Diarylethene‐Bridged Metallosupramolecular Compounds by Controlled Coordination‐Driven Self‐Assembly

We report three self‐assembled iron complexes that comprised an anti‐parallel open form (o‐ L _anti), a parallel open form (o‐ L _syn), and a closed form (c‐ L ) of diarylethene conformers. Under kinetic control, Fe^II₂(o‐ L _anti)₃ was isolated, which exhibited a dinuclear structure with diamagnetic properties. Under light‐irradiation control, Fe^II₂(c‐ L )₃ was prepared and exhibited paramagnetism and spin‐crossover behaviour. Under thermodynamic control and in the presence of indispensable [Fe^III(Tp*)(CN)₃]^?, Fe^II₂(o‐ L _anti)₃ and Fe^II₂(c‐ L )₃ transformed into tetranuclear Fe^III₂Fe^II₂(o‐ L _syn)₂, which exhibited complete spin‐crossover behaviour at T_1/2=353 K.     

A Mixed‐Valence {Fe13} Cluster Exhibiting Metal‐to‐Metal Charge‐Transfer‐Switched Spin Crossover

It is promising and challenging to manipulate the electronic structures and functions of materials utilizing both metal‐to‐metal charge transfer (MMCT) and spin‐crossover (SCO) to tune the valence and spin states of metal ions. Herein, a metallocyanate building block is used to link with a Fe^II‐triazole moiety and generates a mixed‐valence complex {[(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^III(CN)₃]₉[Fe^II₄(trz‐ph)₆]}?[Ph₃PMe]₂?[(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^III(CN)₃] ( 1 ; trz‐ph=4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole). Moreover, MMCT occurs between Fe^III and one of the Fe^II sites after heat treatment, resulting in the generation of a new phase, {[(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^II(CN)₃][(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^III(CN)₃]₈ [Fe^IIIFe^II₃(trz‐ph)₆]}? [Ph₃PMe]₂?[(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^III(CN)₃] ( 1 a ). Structural and magnetic studies reveal that MMCT can tune the two‐step SCO behavior of 1 into one‐step SCO behavior of 1 a . Our work demonstrates that the integration of MMCT and SCO can provide a new alternative for manipulating functional spin‐transition materials with accessible multi‐electronic states.     

Heterotrimetallic Coordination Polymers: {CuIILnIIIFeIII} Chains and {NiIILnIIIFeIII} Layers: Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Magnetic Properties

The use of the [Fe^III(AA)(CN)₄]^? complex anion as metalloligand towards the preformed [Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ or [Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ heterometallic complex cations (AA=2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy) and 1,10‐phenathroline (phen); H₂valpn=1,3‐propanediyl‐bis(2‐iminomethylene‐6‐methoxyphenol)) allowed the preparation of two families of heterotrimetallic complexes: three isostructural 1D coordination polymers of general formula {[Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III(H₂O)₃(μ‐NC)₂Fe^III(phen)(CN)₂ {(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃}]NO₃ ? 7 H₂O}_n (Ln=Gd ( 1 ), Tb ( 2 ), and Dy ( 3 )) and the trinuclear complex [Cu^II(valpn)La^III(OH₂)₃(O₂NO)(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃] ? NO₃ ? H₂O ? CH₃CN ( 4 ) were obtained with the [Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ assembling unit, whereas three isostructural heterotrimetallic 2D networks, {[Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III(ONO₂)₂(H₂O)(μ‐NC)₃Fe^III(bipy)(CN)] ? 2 H₂O ? 2 CH₃CN}_n (Ln=Gd ( 5 ), Tb ( 6 ), and Dy ( 7 )) resulted with the related [Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ precursor. The crystal structure of compound 4 consists of discrete heterotrimetallic complex cations, [Cu^II(valpn)La^III(OH₂)₃(O₂NO)(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃]⁺, nitrate counterions, and non‐coordinate water and acetonitrile molecules. The heteroleptic {Fe^III(bipy)(CN)₄} moiety in 5 – 7 acts as a tris‐monodentate ligand towards three {Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III} binuclear nodes leading to heterotrimetallic 2D networks. The ferromagnetic interaction through the diphenoxo bridge in the Cu^II?Ln^III ( 1 – 3 ) and Ni^II?Ln^III ( 5 – 7 ) units, as well as through the single cyanide bridge between the Fe^III and either Ni^II ( 5 – 7 ) or Cu^II ( 4 ) account for the overall ferromagnetic behavior observed in 1 – 7 . DFT‐type calculations were performed to substantiate the magnetic interactions in 1 , 4 , and 5 . Interestingly, compound 6 exhibits slow relaxation of the magnetization with maxima of the out‐of‐phase ac signals below 4.0 K in the lack of a dc field, the values of the pre‐exponential factor (τ_o) and energy barrier (E_a) through the Arrhenius equation being 2.0×10^?12 s and 29.1 cm^?1, respectively. In the case of 7 , the ferromagnetic interactions through the double phenoxo (Ni^II–Dy^III) and single cyanide (Fe^III–Ni^II) pathways are masked by the depopulation of the Stark levels of the Dy^III ion, this feature most likely accounting for the continuous decrease of χ_M T upon cooling observed for this last compound.     

Light-Induced Bidirectional Metal-to-Metal Charge Transfer in a Linear Fe2Co Complex

It is a challenge to reversibly switch both magnetism and polarity using light irradiation. Herein we report a linear Fe₂Co complex, whereby interconversion between Fe^III_LS(μ-CN)Co^II_HS(μ-NC)Fe^III_LS (LS=low-spin, HS=high-spin) and Fe^III_LS(μ-CN)Co^III_LS(μ-NC)Fe^II_LS linkages could be achieved upon heating and cooling, or alternating laser irradiation at 808 and 532 nm. The electron spin arrangement and charge distribution were simultaneously tuned accompanying bidirectional metal-to-metal charge transfer, providing switchable polarity and magnetism in the complex.     

Facile and Reversible Formation of Iron(III)–Oxo–Cerium(IV) Adducts from Nonheme Oxoiron(IV) Complexes and Cerium(III)

Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) or Ce^IV(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆ is often used in artificial water oxidation and generally considered to be an outer‐sphere oxidant. Herein we report the spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization of [(N4Py)Fe^III‐O‐Ce^IV(OH₂)(NO₃)₄]⁺ ( 3 ), a complex obtained from the reaction of [(N4Py)Fe^II(NCMe)]²⁺ with 2 equiv CAN or [(N4Py)Fe^IV=O]²⁺ ( 2 ) with Ce^III(NO₃)₃ in MeCN. Surprisingly, the formation of 3 is reversible, the position of the equilibrium being dependent on the MeCN/water ratio of the solvent. These results suggest that the Fe^IV and Ce^IV centers have comparable reduction potentials. Moreover, the equilibrium entails a change in iron spin state, from S =1 Fe^IV in 2 to S =5/2 in 3 , which is found to be facile despite the formal spin‐forbidden nature of this process. This observation suggests that Fe^IV=O complexes may avail of reaction pathways involving multiple spin states having little or no barrier.     

Predictable Electronic Tuning By Choice of Azine Substituent in Five Iron(II) Triazoles: Redox Properties and DFT Calculations

Five new mononuclear iron(II) tris‐ligand complexes, and four solvatomorphs, have been made from the azine‐substituted 1,2,4‐triazole ligands ( L^azine ): [Fe^II( L^pyridazine )₃](BF₄)₂ ( 1 ), [Fe^II( L^pyrazine )₃](BF₄)₂ ( 2 ), [Fe^II( L^pyridine )₃](BF₄)₂ ( 3 ), [Fe^II( L^2pyrimidine )₃](BF₄)₂ ( 4 ), and [Fe^II( L^4pyrimidine )₃](BF₄)₂ ( 5 ). Single‐crystal XRD and solid‐state magnetometry reveal that all of them are low‐spin (LS) iron(II), except for solvatomorph 5 ?4 H₂O. Evans method NMR studies in CD₂Cl₂, (CD₃)₂CO and CD₃CN show that all are LS in these solvents, except 5 in CD₂Cl₂ (consistent with L^4pyrimidine imposing the weakest field). Cyclic voltammetry in CH₃CN vs. Ag/0.01 m AgNO₃ reveals an, at best quasi‐reversible, Fe^III/II redox process, with E_pa increasing from 0.69 to 0.99 V as the azine changes: pyridine< pyridazine<2‐pyrimidine<4‐pyrimidine< pyrazine. The observed E_pa values correlate linearly with the DFT calculated HOMO energies for the LS complexes.     

A Bio‐Inspired Switch Based on Cobalt(II) Disulfide/Cobalt(III) Thiolate Interconversion

Disulfide/thiolate interconversion supported by transition‐metal ions is proposed to be implicated in fundamental biological processes, such as the transport of metal ions or the regulation of the production of reactive oxygen species. We report herein a mononuclear dithiolate Co^III complex, [Co^IIILS(Cl)] ( 1 ; LS=sulfur containing ligand), that undergoes a clean, fast, quantitative and reversible Co^II disulfide/Co^III thiolate interconversion mediated by a chloride anion. The removal of Cl^? from the Co^III complex leads to the formation of a bis(μ‐thiolato) μ‐disulfido dicobalt(II) complex, [Co₂^II,IILSSL]²⁺ ( 2 ²⁺). The structures of both complexes have been resolved by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction; their magnetic, spectroscopic, and redox properties investigated together with DFT calculations. This system is a unique example of metal‐based switchable Mⁿ₂‐RSSR/2 M⁽ⁿ⁺¹⁾‐SR (M=metal ion, n=oxidation state) system that does not contain copper, acts under aerobic conditions, and involves systems with different nuclearities.     

Synthesis,Structure and Magnetic Properties of a Cyano‐bridged Dinuclear Compound fac‐{[FeIII(pzTp)(CN)2(μ‐CN)] CuII(TPyA)}·Et2O·ClO4 (pzTp = tetrakis(pyrazolyl)borate)

The reaction of tricyanometallate precursor, (Bu₄N)[(pzTp)Fe(CN)₃] with Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O in the presence of the tetradentate ligand tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (TPyA) afford the dinuclear compound fac‐{[Fe^III(pzTp)(CN)₂(μ‐CN)]Cu^II(TPA)}·Et₂O·ClO₄ ( 1 ) (pzTp = tetrakis(pyrazolyl)borate). The molecular structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In compound 1 , the Fe^III ion is coordinated by three cyanide carbon atoms and three nitrogen atoms of pzTp anions. Whereas, the Cu^II ion is surrounded by one cyanide nitrogen atom and four nitrogen atoms from the TPyA ligand. Magnetic measurements indicate the intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling is observed for compound 1 , and it has S = 1 ground states.     

Guest‐, Light‐ and Thermally‐Modulated Spin Crossover in [FeII2] Supramolecular Helicates

A new bis(pyrazolylpyridine) ligand (H₂L) has been prepared to form functional [Fe₂(H₂L)₃]⁴⁺ metallohelicates. Changes to the synthesis yield six derivatives, X@[Fe₂(H₂L)₃]X(PF₆)₂?xCH₃OH ( 1 , x=5.7 and X=Cl; 2 , x=4 and X=Br), X@[Fe₂(H₂L)₃]X(PF₆)₂?yCH₃OH?H₂O ( 1 a , y=3 and X=Cl; 2 a , y=1 and X=Br) and X@[Fe₂(H₂L)₃](I₃)₂?3 Et₂O ( 1 b , X=Cl; 2 b , X=Br). Their structure and functional properties are described in detail by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction experiments at several temperatures. Helicates 1 a and 2 a are obtained from 1 and 2 , respectively, by a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal mechanism. The three possible magnetic states, [LS–LS], [LS–HS], and [HS–HS] can be accessed over large temperature ranges as a result of the structural nonequivalence of the Fe^II centers. The nature of the guest (Cl^? vs. Br^?) shifts the spin crossover (SCO) temperature by roughly 40 K. Also, metastable [LS–HS] or [HS–HS] states are generated through irradiation. All helicates (X@[Fe₂(H₂L)₃])³⁺ persist in solution.     

Single‐Crystal X‐Ray Diffraction Study of Pressure and Temperature‐Induced Spin Trapping in a Bistable Iron(II) Hofmann Framework

High‐pressure single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction has been used to trap both the low‐spin (LS) and high‐spin (HS) states of the iron(II) Hofmann spin crossover framework, [Fe^II(pdm)(H₂O)[Ag(CN)₂]₂?H₂O, under identical experimental conditions, allowing the structural changes arising from the spin‐transition to be deconvoluted from previously reported thermal effects.     

Influence of Central Metalloligand Geometry on Electronic Communication between Metals: Syntheses,Crystal Structures,MMCT Properties of Isomeric Cyanido‐Bridged Fe2Ru Complexes,and TDDFT Calculations

To investigate how the central metalloligand geometry influences distant or vicinal metal‐to‐metal charge‐transfer (MMCT) properties of polynuclear complexes, cis‐ and trans‐isomeric heterotrimetallic complexes, and their one‐ and two‐electron oxidation products, cis/trans‐ [Cp(dppe)Fe^IINCRu^II(phen)₂CN‐Fe^II(dppe)Cp][PF₆]₂ (cis/trans‐ 1 [PF₆]₂), cis/trans‐[Cp(dppe)Fe^IINCRu^II(phen)₂CNFe^III‐(dppe)Cp][PF₆]₃ (cis/trans‐ 1 [PF₆]₃) and cis/trans‐[Cp(dppe)Fe^IIINCRu^II(phen)₂CN‐Fe^III(dppe)Cp][PF₆]₄ (cis/trans‐ 1 [PF₆]₄) have been synthesized and characterized. Electrochemical measurements show the presence of electronic interactions between the two external Fe^II atoms of the cis‐ and trans‐isomeric complexes cis/trans‐ 1 [PF₆]₂. The electronic properties of all these complexes were studied and compared by spectroscopic techniques and TDDFT//DFT calculations. As expected, both mixed valence complexes cis/trans‐ 1 [PF₆]₃ exhibited different strong absorption signals in the NIR region, which should mainly be attributed to a transition from an MO that is delocalized over the Ru^II‐CN‐Fe^II subunit to a Fe^III d orbital with some contributions from the co‐ligands. Moreover, the NIR transition energy in trans‐ 1 [PF₆]₃ is lower than that in cis‐ 1 [PF₆]₃, which is related to the symmetry of their molecular orbitals on the basis of the molecular orbital analysis. Also, the electronic spectra of the two‐electron oxidized complexes show that trans‐ 1 [PF₆]₄ possesses lower vicinal Ru^II→Fe^III MMCT transition energy than cis‐ 1 [PF₆]₄. Moreover, the assignment of MMCT transition of the oxidized products and the differences of the electronic properties between the cis and trans complexes can be well rationalized using TDDFT//DFT calculations.     

A Mixed-Valence {Fe13} Cluster Exhibiting Metal-to-Metal Charge-Transfer-Switched Spin Crossover

It is promising and challenging to manipulate the electronic structures and functions of materials utilizing both metal-to-metal charge transfer (MMCT) and spin-crossover (SCO) to tune the valence and spin states of metal ions. Herein, a metallocyanate building block is used to link with a Fe^II-triazole moiety and generates a mixed-valence complex {[(Tp^4-Me)Fe^III(CN)₃]₉[Fe^II₄(trz-ph)₆]}⋅[Ph₃PMe]₂⋅[(Tp^4-Me)Fe^III(CN)₃] ( 1 ; trz-ph=4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole). Moreover, MMCT occurs between Fe^III and one of the Fe^II sites after heat treatment, resulting in the generation of a new phase, {[(Tp^4-Me)Fe^II(CN)₃][(Tp^4-Me)Fe^III(CN)₃]₈ [Fe^IIIFe^II₃(trz-ph)₆]}⋅ [Ph₃PMe]₂⋅[(Tp^4-Me)Fe^III(CN)₃] ( 1 a ). Structural and magnetic studies reveal that MMCT can tune the two-step SCO behavior of 1 into one-step SCO behavior of 1 a . Our work demonstrates that the integration of MMCT and SCO can provide a new alternative for manipulating functional spin-transition materials with accessible multi-electronic states.     

One‐Dimensional Ferromagnetically Coupled Bimetallic Chains Constructed with trans‐[Ru(acac)2(CN)2]−: Syntheses,Structures, Magnetic Properties,and Density Functional Theoretical Study

Four cyano‐bridged 1D bimetallic polymers have been prepared by using the paramagnetic building block trans‐[Ru(acac)₂(CN)₂]^? (Hacac=acetylacetone): {[{Ni(tren)}{Ru(acac)₂(CN)₂}][ClO₄]?CH₃OH}_n ( 1 ) (tren=tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine), {[{Ni(cyclen)}{Ru(acac)₂(CN)₂}][ClO₄]? CH₃OH}_n ( 2 ) (cyclen=1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane), {[{Fe(salen)}{Ru(acac)₂(CN)₂}]}_n ( 3 ) (salen^2?=N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)‐o‐ethyldiamine dianion) and [{Mn(5,5′‐Me₂salen)}₂{Ru(acac)₂(CN)₂}][Ru(acac)₂(CN)₂]? 2 CH₃OH ( 4 ) (5,5′‐Me₂salen=N,N′‐bis(5,5′‐dimethylsalicylidene)‐o‐ethylenediimine). Compounds 1 and 2 are 1D, zigzagged NiRu chains that exhibit ferromagnetic coupling between Ni^II and Ru^III ions through cyano bridges with J=+1.92 cm^?1, z J′=?1.37 cm^?1, g=2.20 for 1 and J=+0.85 cm^?1, z J′=?0.16 cm^?1, g=2.24 for 2 . Compound 3 has a 1D linear chain structure that exhibits intrachain ferromagnetic coupling (J=+0.62 cm^?1, z J′=?0.09 cm^?1, g=2.08), but antiferromagnetic coupling occurs between FeRu chains, leading to metamagnetic behavior with T_N=2.6 K. In compound 4 , two Mn^III ions are coordinated to trans‐[Ru(acac)₂(CN)₂]^? to form trinuclear Mn₂Ru units, which are linked together by π–π stacking and weak Mn???O* interactions to form a 1D chain. Compound 4 shows slow magnetic relaxation below 3.0 K with ?=0.25, characteristic of superparamagnetic behavior. The Mn^III???Ru^III coupling constant (through cyano bridges) and the Mn^III???Mn^III coupling constant (between the trimers) are +0.87 and +0.24 cm^?1, respectively. Compound 4 is a novel single‐chain magnet built from Mn₂Ru trimers through noncovalent interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) combined with the broken symmetry state method was used to calculate the molecular magnetic orbitals and the magnetic exchange interactions between Ru^III and M (M=Ni^II, Fe^III, and Mn^III) ions. To explain the somewhat unexpected ferromagnetic coupling between low‐spin Ru^III and high‐spin Fe^III and Mn^III ions in compounds 3 and 4 , respectively, it is proposed that apart from the relative symmetries, the relative energies of the magnetic orbitals may also be important in determining the overall magnetic coupling in these bimetallic assemblies.     

Spontaneous Reduction of Mononuclear High‐Spin Iron(III) Complexes to Mononuclear Low‐Spin Iron(II) Complexes in Aqueous Media and Nuclease Activity via Self‐Activation

Mononuclear high‐spin [Fe^III(Pyimpy)Cl₃]?2 CH₂Cl₂ ( 1 ?2 CH₂Cl₂) and [Fe^III(Me‐Pyimpy)Cl₃] ( 2 ), as well as low‐spin Fe^II(Pyimpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 3 ) and [Fe^II(Me‐Pyimpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 4 ) complexes of tridentate ligands Pyimpy and Me‐Pyimpy have been synthesized and characterized by analytical techniques, spectral, and X‐ray structural analyses. We observed an important type of conversion and associated spontaneous reduction of mono‐chelated high‐spin Fe^III ( 1 ?2 CH₂Cl₂ and 2 ) complexes to low‐spin bis‐chelated Fe^II complexes 3 and 4 , respectively. This process has been explored in detail by UV/Vis, fluorescence, and ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements. The high positive potentials observed in electrochemical studies suggested a better stabilization of Fe^II centers in 3 and 4 . Theoretical studies by density functional theory (DFT) calculations supported an increased stabilization for 3 in polar solvents. Self‐activated nuclease activity of complexes 1 ?2CH₂Cl₂ and 2 during their spontaneous reduction was examined for the first time and the mechanism of nuclease activity was investigated.     

Syntheses,Structures and Magnetic Properties of Two Mixed‐Valent Disc‐like Hepta‐nuclear Compounds of [FeIIFeIII6(tea)6](ClO4)2 and [MnII3MnIII4(nmdea)6(N3)6]·CH3OH (tea = N(CH2CH2O)33−, nmdea = CH3N(CH2CH2O)22−)

Two mixed‐valent disc‐like hepta‐nuclear compounds of [Fe^IIFe^III₆(tea)₆](ClO₄)₂ ( 1Fe , tea = N(CH₂CH₂O)₃^3?) and [Mn^II₃Mn^III₄(nmdea)₆(N₃)₆]·CH₃OH ( 2Mn , nmdea = CH₃N(CH₂CH₂O)₂^2?) have been synthesized by the reaction of Fe(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O with triethanolamine (H₃tea) for the former and reaction of Mn(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O with diethanolamine (H₂nmdea) and NaN₃ for the later, respectively. 1Fe has the cationic cluster with a planar [Fe^IIFe^III₆] core consisting of one central Fe^II and six rim Fe^III atoms in hexagonal arrangement. The Fe ions are linked by the oxo‐bridges from the alcohol arms in the manner of edge‐sharing of their coordination octahedra. 2Mn is a neutral cluster with a [Mn^II₃Mn^III₄] core possessing one central Mn^II atom surrounded by six rim Mn ions, two Mn^II and four Mn^III. The structure is similar to 1Fe but involves six terminal azido ligands, each coordinate one rim Mn ion. 1Fe showed dominant antiferromagnetic interaction within the cluster and long‐range ordering at 2.7 K. The cluster probably has a ground state of low spin of S = 5/2 or 4/2. The long‐range ordering is weak ferromagnetic, showing small hysteresis with a remnant magnetization of 0.3 Nβ and a coercive field of 40 Oe. Moreover, the isofield of lines 1Fe are far from superposition, indicating the presence of significant zero–field splitting. Ferromagnetic interactions are dominant in 2Mn . An intermediate spin ground state 25/2 is observed at low field. In high field of 50 kOe, the energetically lowest state is given by the m_s = 31/2 component of the S = 31/2 multiplet due to the Zeeman effect. Despite of the large ground state, no single‐molecule magnet behavior was found above 2 K.     

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.     

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.     

Slow Magnetic Relaxation,Antiferromagnetic Ordering,and Metamagnetism in MnII(H2dapsc)-FeIII(CN)6 Chain Complex with Highly Anisotropic Fe-CN-Mn Spin Coupling

Reactions of [Mn(H₂dapsc)Cl₂] ⋅ H₂O (dapsc=2,6- diacetylpyridine bis(semicarbazone)) with K₃[Fe(CN)₆] and (PPh₄)₃[Fe(CN)₆] lead to the formation of the chain polymeric complex {[Mn(H₂dapsc)][Fe(CN)₆][K(H₂O)_3.5]}_n ⋅ 1.5n H₂O ( 1 ) and the discrete pentanuclear complex {[Mn(H₂dapsc)]₃[Fe(CN)₆]₂(H₂O)₂} ⋅ 4 CH₃OH ⋅ 3.4 H₂O ( 2 ), respectively. In the crystal structure of 1 the high-spin [Mn^II(H₂dapsc)]²⁺ cations and low-spin hexacyanoferrate(III) anions are assembled into alternating heterometallic cyano-bridged chains. The K⁺ ions are located between the chains and are coordinated by oxygen atoms of the H₂dapsc ligand and water molecules. The magnetic structure of 1 is built from ferrimagnetic chains, which are antiferromagnetically coupled. The complex exhibits metamagnetism and frequency-dependent ac magnetic susceptibility, indicating single-chain magnetic behavior with a Mydosh-parameter φ=0.12 and an effective energy barrier (U_eff/k_B) of 36.0 K with τ₀=2.34×10⁻¹¹ s for the spin relaxation. Detailed theoretical analysis showed highly anisotropic intra-chain spin coupling between [Fe^III(CN)₆]³⁻ and [Mn^II(H₂dapsc)]²⁺ units resulting from orbital degeneracy and unquenched orbital momentum of [Fe^III(CN)₆]³⁻ complexes. The origin of the metamagnetic transition is discussed in terms of strong magnetic anisotropy and weak AF interchain spin coupling.     

[Fe(TPT)2/3{MI(CN)2}2]⋅nSolv (MI=Ag,Au): New Bimetallic Porous Coordination Polymers with Spin‐Crossover Properties

Two new heterobimetallic porous coordination polymers with the formula [Fe(TPT)_2/3{M^I(CN)₂}₂] ? nSolv (TPT=[(2,4,6‐tris(4‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine]; M^I=Ag (nSolv=0, 1 MeOH, 2 CH₂Cl₂), Au (nSolv=0, 2 CH₂Cl₂)) have been synthesized and their crystal structures were determined at 120 K and 293 K by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. These structures crystallized in the trigonal R‐3m space group. The Fe^II ion resides at an inversion centre that defines a [FeN₆] coordination core. Four dicyanometallate groups coordinate at the equatorial positions, whilst the axial positions are occupied by the TPT ligand. Each TPT ligand is centred in a ternary axis and bridges three crystallographically equivalent Fe^II ions, whilst each dicyanometallate group bridges two crystallographically equivalent Fe^II ions that define a 3D network with the topology of NbO. There are two such networks, which interpenetrate each other, thereby giving rise to large spaces in which very labile solvent molecules are included (CH₂Cl₂ or MeOH). Crystallographic analysis confirmed the reversible structural changes that were associated with the occurrence of spin‐crossover behaviour at the Fe^II ions, the most significant structural variation being the change in unit‐cell volume (about 59 ų per Fe^II ion). The spin‐crossover behaviour has been monitored by means of thermal dependence of the magnetic properties, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and calorimetry.