Observation of an Fe(II) spin-crossover in a cesium iron hexacyanochromate

In this work, we observed a spin-crossover phenomenon in a cesium iron hexacyanochromate, which is a Prussian blue analogue. This compound showed a thermal phase transition with transition temperatures of 211 K (T1/2 downward arrow) and 238 K (T1/2 upward arrow) due to a spin-crossover on FeII sites. This spin-crossover phase transition is accompanied by a lattice contraction of 0.38 A, but maintains a face-centered cubic structure (F3m). This is the first observation of FeII spin-crossover in a series of Prussian blue analogues.     

Thermal and light induced polymorphism in iron(II) spin crossover compounds

The spin crossover complexes [Fe[H(2)B(pz)(2)](2)L]([H(2)B(pz)(2)](-)= dihydrobis(pyrazolyl)borate, L = 2,2[prime or minute]-bipyridine (1), bipy and 1,10-phenanthroline, phen (2)) undergo both thermal and light induced spin crossover, but the structure of the low spin and light induced high spin states for are different from that of the thermally induced high spin state and from those of.     

Picosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy of a photoinduced iron(II) spin crossover reaction in solution

In this study, we perform steady-state and time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) on the iron K-edge of [Fe(tren(py)3)](PF6)2 dissolved in acetonitrile solution. Static XAS measurements on the low-spin parent compound and its high-spin analogue, [Fe(tren(6-Me-py)3)](PF6)2, reveal distinct spectroscopic signatures for the two spin states in the X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and in the X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). For the time-resolved studies, 100 fs, 400 nm pump pulses initiate a charge-transfer transition in the low-spin complex. The subsequent electronic and geometric changes associated with the formation of the high-spin excited state are probed with 70 ps, 7.1 keV, tunable X-ray pulses derived from the Advanced Light Source (ALS). Modeling of the transient XAS data reveals that the average iron-nitrogen (Fe-N) bond is lengthened by 0.21+/-0.03 A in the high-spin excited state relative to the ground state within 70 ps. This structural modification causes a change in the metal-ligand interactions as reflected by the altered density of states of the unoccupied metal orbitals. Our results constitute the first direct measurements of the dynamic atomic and electronic structural rearrangements occurring during a photoinduced FeII spin crossover reaction in solution via picosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy.     

Electrochemical properties of (Co,Fe)CN,cobaltous Prussian blue analogue

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A Prussian blue analogue (Co,Fe)CN with Fe and Co ions linked by CN– ions was synthesized; the synthesis was aimed at obtaining cobalt...     

Prussian blue analogue CsFe[Cr(CN)(6)] as a matrix for the Fe(II) spin-crossover

The origin of the intriguing spin-transition behavior of the Prussian blue analogue cesium iron hexacyanochromate CsFe[Cr(CN)6] has been investigated by means of correlated ab initio CASPT2 calculations. Using the smallest transiting core [Fe(NC)6]4-, the relative importance of the local ligand field and the Madelung field generated by the rest of the crystal was estimated. It is shown that in the presence of a frozen-charge environment, the high-spin state lies lower in energy than the low-spin state, thus excluding the possibility of observing a spin transition. In contrast, the charge reorganization in the environment evaluated from unrestricted periodic Hartree-Fock calculations creates a prerequisite for the spin-transition phenomenon. The influence of the disorder in the cesium ions' positions on the spin transition has been examined as a possible stabilizing factor of the low-spin state of [Fe(NC)6]4-. It is concluded that this experimentally observed disorder cannot account solely for the unprecedented behavior of the CsFe[Cr(CN)6] compound.     

A multi-scale approach to spin crossover in Fe(II) compounds

We report here for the first time a multi-scale study on the concept of spin-crossover compounds, which integrates improved density functionals, a polarizable force field and hybrid QM/MM calculations. This multi-scale setup is applied to the temperature dependence of spin states of a Fe(II) compound with trispyrazolylborate ligands that exhibits spin-crossover. Our study shows a transition temperature of around 290 K, which is in perfect agreement with experimental results. Moreover, based on our data we provide the origin of why spin transition occurs in this iron-compound: it results directly from spin-state changes in the iron-compound that lead to more favourable electrostatic interactions for the high-spin state.     

Partial spin crossover behaviour in a dinuclear iron(II) triple helicate

Reported herein are the synthesis, structural, magnetic and M?ssbauer spectroscopic characterisation of a dinuclear Fe(II) triple helicate complex [Fe(2)(L)(3)](ClO(4))(4).xH(2)O (x = 1-4), 1(H(2)O), where L is a bis-bidentate imidazolimine ligand. Low temperature structural analysis (150 K) and M?ssbauer spectroscopy (4.5 K) are consistent with one of the Fe(II) centres within the helicate being in the low spin (LS) state with the other being in the high-spin (HS) state resulting in a [LS:HS] species. However, M?ssbauer spectroscopy (295 K) and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements (4.5-300 K) reveal that 1(H(2)O) undergoes a reversible single step spin crossover at one Fe(II) centre at higher temperatures resulting in a [HS:HS] species. Indeed, the T(1/2)(SCO) values at this Fe(II) centre also vary as the degree of hydration, x, within 1(H(2)O) changes from 1 to 4 and are centred between ca. 210 K-265 K, respectively. The dehydration/hydration cycle is reversible and the fully hydrated phase of 1(H(2)O) may be recovered on exposure to water vapour. This magnetic behaviour is in contrast to that observed in the related compound [Fe(2)(L)(3)](ClO(4))(4)·2MeCN, 1(MeCN), whereby fully reversible SCO was observed at each Fe(II) centre to give [LS:LS] species at low temperature and [HS:HS] species at higher temperatures. Reasons for this differing behaviour between 1(H(2)O) and 1(MeCN) are discussed.     

Simulating picosecond iron K-edge X-ray absorption spectra by ab initio methods to study photoinduced changes in the electronic structure of Fe(II) spin crossover complexes

Recent time-resolved X-ray absorption experiments probing the low-spin to high-spin photoconversion in Fe(II) complexes have monitored the complex interplay between electronic and structural degrees of freedom on an ultrafast time scale. In this study, we use transition potential (TP) and time-dependent (TD) DFT to simulate the picosecond time-resolved iron K-edge X-ray absorption spectrum of the spin crossover (SCO) complex, [Fe(tren(py)(3))](2+). This is achieved by simulating the X-ray absorption spectrum of [Fe(tren(py)(3))](2+) in its low-spin (LS), (1)A(1), ground state and its high-spin (HS), (5)T(2), excited state. These results are compared with the X-ray absorption spectrum of the high-spin analogue (HSA), [Fe(tren(6-Me-py)(3))](2+), which has a (5)T(2) ground state. We show that the TP-DFT methodology can simulate a 40 eV range of the iron K-edge XANES spectrum reproducing all of the major features observed in the static and transient spectra of the LS, HS, and HSA complexes. The pre-edge region of the K-edge spectrum, simulated by TD-DFT, is shown to be highly sensitive to metal-ligand bonding. Changes in the intensity of the pre-edge region are shown to be sensitive to both symmetry and π-backbonding by analysis of relative electric dipole and quadrupole contributions to the transition moments. We generate a spectroscopic map of the iron 3d orbitals from our TD-DFT results and determine ligand field splitting energies of 1.55 and 1.35 eV for the HS and HSA complexes, respectively. We investigate the use of different functionals finding that hybrid functionals (such as PBE0) produce the best results. Finally, we provide a detailed comparison of our results with theoretical methods that have been previously used to interpret Fe K-edge spectroscopy of equilibrium and time-resolved SCO complexes.     

Pressure-tuning of magnetism and linkage isomerism in iron(II) hexacyanochromate

A pressure-induced linkage isomerization of the cyanide anion has been observed in single crystals of a chromium(III)-iron(II) Prussian blue analogue of formula K0.4Fe4[Cr(CN)6]2.8 square1.2.16H2O (1). Upon application of pressure in the 0-1200 MPa range, the cyanide ligand rotates and becomes C-bonded to the iron(II) cations, leading to a stabilization of their diamagnetic low-spin states. The result is a decrease of magnetization and magnetic ordering temperatures from TC = 19 K at ambient pressure to 13 K at 1200 MPa. The initial magnetic properties can be restored on pressure release. The reversible movement of cyanide in the solid state can be exploited as a switch of the magnetic interaction at the molecular level.     

Dinuclear Fe(III) complexes with spin crossover

Abstract  A series of dinuclear Fe(III) complexes was synthesized in which the Schiff-base blocking ligand L⁵ coordinates each of the centers which are linked by a bidentate, bipyridine-type ligand. For these systems, [L⁵Fe^III{bridge}Fe^IIIL⁵](BPh₄)₂, thermally induced spin crossover is observed. The corollary of the systems is that the spin crossover interferes with the magnetic exchange interaction. The overlap of the energy bands of the LL and HH reference states (L, low-spin; H, high-spin) causes the exchange interaction to act against the spin crossover (leading to incompleteness or gradual behavior). Graphical abstract        

Light-induced spin crossover in Fe(II)-based complexes: The full photocycle unraveled by ultrafast optical and X-ray spectroscopies

The light-induced spin and structure changes upon excitation of the singlet metal-to-ligand charge transfer (¹MLCT) state of Fe(II)-polypyridine complexes are investigated in detail in the case of aqueous iron(II)-tris-bipyridine ([Fe^II(bpy)₃]²⁺) by a combination of ultrafast optical and X-ray spectroscopies. Polychromatic femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion, transient absorption studies in the 290–600 nm region and femtosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy allow us to retrieve the entire photocycle upon excitation of the ¹MLCT state from the singlet low-spin ground state (¹GS) as the following sequence: ^1,3MLCT → ⁵T → ¹GS, which does not involve intermediate singlet and triplet ligand-field states. The population time of the HS state is found to be ～150 fs, leaving it in a vibrationally hot state that relaxes in 2–3 ps, before decaying to the ground state in 650 ps. We also determine the structure of the high-spin quintet excited state by picosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the K-edge of Fe. We argue that given the many common electronic (ordering of electronic states) and structural (Fe–N bond elongation in the high-spin state, Fe–N mode frequencies, etc.) similarities between all Fe(II)-polypyridine complexes, the results on the electronic relaxation processes reported in the case of [Fe^II(bpy)₃]²⁺ are of general validity to the entire family of Fe(II)-polypyridine complexes.     

Enhanced bistability by guest inclusion in Fe(II) spin crossover porous coordination polymers

Inclusion of thiourea guest molecules in the tridimensional spin crossover porous coordination polymers {[Fe(pyrazine)[M(CN)(4)]} (M = Pd, Pt) leads to novel clathrates exhibiting unprecedented large thermal hysteresis loops of ca. 60 K wide centered near room temperature.     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of novel iron(II)-based spin crossover compounds

Two novel spin crossover (SCO) compounds, namely [Fe(INMe)(pyN₄)]Br₂, and [Fe(IMMe)(pyN₄)](OTf)₂, where pyN₄ = 2,6-Bis(1′,3′-diamino-2′methyl-prop-2′yl)pyridine, INMe = isonicotinic acid methyl ester, IMMe = N-methyl-imidazole, and OTf = triflate, are characterized here both from experimental and theoretical viewpoints. In particular, we apply various density functionals and basis sets to obtain optimized geometries for low- (LS) and high-spin (HS) states, vibrational spectra, LS–HS splittings, and temperature-dependent UV/vis spectra. While geometries and spectra are in good agreement with experimental data, the well-known spin pairing problem makes it difficult to compute accurate LS–HS splitting energies and enthalpies. Based on TD–DFT calculations, the capacity of the compounds for use as reversibly photo-switchable molecules is discussed.     

Hydrostatic pressure induced transformation of magnetism in a trimetallic CuMnFe Prussian blue analogue

With chemical co-precipitation, trimetal Prussian blue analogue Cu_0.71Mn_0.79[Fe(CN)₆]·7.3H₂O was obtained. We used supercritical carbon dioxide extraction apparatus to pressurize the samples for 10?MPa, 20?MPa, and 42?MPa for 5?h. X-ray powder diffraction data show the single-phase of the sample at different pressures with a NaCl-type face-centered cubic structure. Trimetal Prussian blue analogs Cu_0.71Mn_0.79[Fe(CN)₆]·7.3H₂O include both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions among different metal ions and exhibit novel mixed magnetic property. Hydrostatic pressure may be a powerful tool for development of new functional magnets. Spontaneous magnetization in the field cooled (FC) magnetization above 10?MPa approaches a value three times larger than that at 1?atm, and the zero field cooled (ZFC) magnetization is also extremely sensitive to pressure. The results show that pressure can simultaneously enhance the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions in this material. The Weiss constant decreases gradually with pressure increasing from 10 to 42?MPa, due to pressure-induced electron transfer from Mn²⁺/Cu²⁺ to Fe³⁺.     

Polymorphism and spin crossover in mononuclear Fe(II) species containing new dipyridylamino-substituted s-triazine ligands

Four new dipyridylamino-substituted s-triazine ligands DBB (N(2),N(2),N(4),N(4)-tetrabenzyl-N(6),N(6)-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine), DDB (N(2),N(2),N(4),N(4)-tetrabutyl-N(6),N(6)-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine), DCCl (6-chloro-N(2),N(2)-dicyclohexyl-N(4),N(4)-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) and DDT (N(2),N(2),N(4),N(4)-tetraphenyl-N(6),N(6)-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine), have been incorporated into eight new, 0D Fe(II) compounds of type [Fe(II)(NCX)(2)(L)(2)]·Solvent (where NCX = NCS(-), NCSe(-) or N(CN)(2)(-)). The polymorphic compounds α-trans-[Fe(II)(NCS)(2)(DBB)(2)] (1) and β-trans-[Fe(II)(NCS)(2)(DBB)(2)] (2) display, respectively, a relatively abrupt, complete, one-step spin transition with T(?) ~ 170 K, and a more gradual, complete, one-step spin transition with T(?) ~ 300 K. Gradual, one-step spin transitions are observed for trans-[Fe(II)(N(CN)(2))(2)(DBB)(2)]·2CH(3)CH(2)OH (3) and trans-[Fe(II)(NCSe)(2)(DCCl)(2)]·2CH(3)OH (6) with T(?) ~ 280 K for both, while the one-step spin transition observed for a desolvated sample of trans-[Fe(II)(NCSe)(2)(DDB)(2)]·2CH(3)OH (4) is relatively abrupt, showing hysteresis with T(?↑) = 285 K and T(?↓) = 275 K. The compounds cis-[Fe(II)(NCS)(2)(DDB)(2)] (5) and trans-[Fe(II)(NCS)(2)(DDT)(2)]·4CH(2)Cl(2) (7) remain high spin, while structural data on trans-[Fe(II)(NCSe)(2)(DDT)(2)]·4CH(2)Cl(2) (8) suggests a spin transition at low temperatures. It is likely that distortion of the Fe(II)N(6) octahedron, intermolecular interactions and molecular conformation are crucial in deciding both the T(?) and abruptness of the spin transition for these species, although the nature of their influence varies. Variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction measurements on the polymorphs 1 and 2 reveal anisotropy in the unit cell parameters as the spin transition occurs.     

A temperature-dependent order-disorder and crystallographic phase transition in a 0D Fe(II) spin crossover compound and its non-spin crossover Co(II) isomorph

The new dipyridylamino/triazine ligand DDE (N(2),N(2),N(4),N(4)-tetraethyl-N(6),N(6)-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine) has been incorporated into the mononuclear Fe(II) SCO compounds cis-[Fe(II)(NCSe)(2)(DDE)(2)] (1), cis-[Fe(II)(NCBH(3))(2)(DDE)(2)] (2), and cis-[Fe(II)(NCS)(2)(DDE)(2)] (3). Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that each of 1, 2 and 3 undergoes a complete, continuous spin transition with a T(?) of ～260 K, ～300 K and ～205 K, respectively. An analogue and isomorph of 1, cis-[Co(II)(NCSe)(2)(DDE)(2)] (4), remains high spin down to low temperatures. Variable temperature single crystal data reveal that 1 and 4 undergo a crystallographic phase transition (from orthorhombic Pbcn at high temperatures to monoclinic P2/c at low temperatures) accompanied by an order-disorder transition of ethyl moieties of the DDE ligand. In the Pbcn phase, the structures of 1 and 4 contain one crystallographically unique M(II) centre, while in the P2/c phase, 1 and 4 contain two crystallographically unique M(II) centres. Variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction experiments reveal that the crystallographic phase transition occurs at ～250 K for 1. The occurrence of the concomitant order-disorder and crystallographic phase transitions undergone by 1 and 4 is not directly apparent in their magnetic susceptibility measurements, and this is likely due to the local environment of the M(II) centres remaining largely undisturbed as the transitions occur. The compound 2 is isostructural to 1 and 4 at low temperatures.     

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.     

Anion-solvent dependence of bistability in a family of meridional N-donor-ligand-containing iron(II) spin crossover complexes

Five mononuclear spin crossover iron(II) bis-meridional ligand complexes of the general formula [Fe(L)(2)](X)(2).solvent, have been synthesized, where X = BF(4)- or ClO(4)-; L = 2-(1-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-pyrazine (picpzpz) or 2-(3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine) (picpypz); solvent = MeOH or EtOH. The magnetic and structural consequences of systematic variation of meridional ligand, solvent, and anion, including a desolvated species, have been investigated. The complex [Fe(picpzpz)(2)](BF(4))(2).MeOH, 1.MeOH, displays several unique properties including a two-step spin transition with a gradual higher-temperature step ((1)T(1/2) = 197 K) and an abrupt low-temperature step with hysteresis ((2)T(1/2) = 91/98 K) and a metastable intermediate spin state below 70 K with quench-cooling. Removal of the solvent methanol results in the loss of the abrupt step and associated hysteresis (T(1/2) = 150 K). The complexes [Fe(picpzpz)(2)](BF(4))(2).EtOH (1.EtOH), [Fe(picpzpz)(2)](ClO(4))(2).MeOH (2.MeOH), [Fe(picpzpz)(2)](ClO(4))(2).EtOH (2.EtOH), and [Fe(picpypz)(2)](BF(4))(2).MeOH (3.MeOH) all show gradual one-step spin transitions with T(1/2) values in the range 210-250 K. Photomagnetic LIESST measurements on 1.MeOH reveal a near-quantitative excitation of high-spin sites and a unique two-step relaxation process related to the two-step thermal spin transition ((1)T(LIESST) = 49 K and (2)T(LIESST) = 70 K). The structural consequences of the unusual spin transition displayed by 1.MeOH have been investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction structural analyses between 25 and 293 K. Detailed characterization of the unit cell parameter evolution vs temperature reflects both the gradual high-temperature step and abrupt low-temperature step, including the thermal hysteresis, observed magnetically.