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.     

Spatiotemporal Studies of the One-Dimensional Coordination Polymer [Fe(ebtz)2(C2H5CN)2](BF4)2: Tug of War between the Nitrile Reorientation Versus Crystal Lattice as a Tool for Tuning the Spin Crossover Properties**

Reaction of 1,2-di(tetrazol-2-yl)ethane (ebtz) with Fe(BF₄)₂⋅6 H₂O in different nitriles yields one-dimensional coordination polymers [Fe(ebtz)₂(RCN)₂](BF₄)₂⋅nRCN (n=2 for R=CH₃ ( 1 ) and n=0 for R=C₂H₅ ( 2 ) C₃H₇ ( 3 ), C₃H₅ ( 4 ), CH₂Cl ( 5 )) exhibiting spin crossover (SCO). SCO in 1 and 3 – 5 is complete and occurs above 160 K. In 2 , it is shifted to lower temperatures and is accompanied by wide hysteresis (T_1/2^↓=78 K, T_1/2^↑=123 K) and proceeds extremely slowly. Isothermal (80 K) time-resolved single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed a complex nature for the HS→LS transition in 2 . An initial, slow stage is associated with shrinkage of polymeric chains and with reduction of volume at 77 % (in relation to the difference between cell volumes V_HS−V_LS) whereas only 16 % of iron(II) ions change spin state. In the second stage, an abrupt SCO occurs, associated with breathing of the crystal lattice along the direction of the Fe–nitrile bonds, while the nitriles reorient. HS→LS switching triggered by light (808 nm) reveals the coupling of spin state and nitrile orientation. The importance of this coupling was confirmed by studies of [Fe(ebtz)₂(C₂H₅CN/C₃H₇CN)₂](BF₄)₂ mixed crystals ( 2 a , 2 b ), showing a shift of T_1/2 to higher values and narrowing of the hysteresis loop concomitant with an increase of the fraction of butyronitrile. This increase reduces the capability of nitrile molecules to reorient. Density functional theory (DFT) studies of models of 1 – 5 suggest a particular possibility of 2 to adopt a low (140–145°) value of its Fe-N-C(propionitrile) angle.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Different Spin‐State Behaviors in Isostructural Solvates of a Molecular Iron(II) Complex

The complex [FeL₂][BF₄]₂ ( 1 ; L=4‐(isopropylsulfanyl)‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine) forms solvate crystals 1 ?solv (solv=MeNO₂, MeCN, EtCN, or Me₂CO). Most of these materials lose their solvent sluggishly on heating. However, heating 1 ?MeNO₂ at 450 K, or storing 1 ?EtCN under ambient conditions, leads to single‐crystal to single‐crystal exchange of the organic solvent for atmospheric moisture, forming 1 ?H₂O. Solvent‐free 1 ( 1 ?sf) can be generated in situ by annealing 1 ?H₂O at 370 K in the diffractometer or magnetometer. The different forms of 1 are isostructural (P2₁/c, Z=4) and most of them exhibit spin‐crossover (SCO) at 141≤T ≤212 K, depending on their solvent content. The exception is the EtCN solvate, whose pristine crystals remain high‐spin between 3–300 K. The cooperativity of the spin‐transitions depends on the solvent, ranging from gradual and incomplete when solv=acetone to abrupt with 17 K hysteresis when solv=MeCN. Our previously proposed relationship between molecular structure and SCO explains some of these observations, but there is no single structural feature that correlates with SCO in all the 1 ?solv materials. However, changes to the unit cell dimensions during SCO differ significantly between the solvates, and correlate with the SCO cooperativity. In particular, the percentage change in unit cell volume during SCO for the most cooperative material, 1 ?MeCN, is 10 times smaller than for the other 1 ?solv crystals.     

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.     

Sliding Polymeric Layers and Anion Displacement Coupled with Spin Crossover in Two-Dimensional Networks of [Fe(hbtz)2(CH3CN)2](BF4)2

The abrupt high spin (HS)→low spin (LS) transition (T^↓_1/2=136 K) in [Fe(hbtz)₂(CH₃CN)₂](BF₄)₂ (hbtz=1,6-di(tetrazol-2-yl)hexane) is finished at 100 K and further thermal treatment influences the spin crossover. Subsequent heating involves a change of the spin state in the same way (T^↑_1/2=136 K) on cooling. In contrast, cooling below 100 K triggers different behavior and T^↑_1/2 is shifted to 170 K. The extraordinary structural changes that occurred below 100 K are responsible for the observed diversity of properties. A unique feature of the low-temperature phase is the rebuilding of the anion network expressed by a shift of anions inside the polymeric layer at a distance of 1.2 Å as well as the relative shift of neighboring layers at over 4 Å. These structural alterations, connected with a phase transition, become the origin of the strain, which in most cases causes crystal cleaving. In a sample composed from crystals crushed as a result of the phase transition or as a result of mechanical crumbling, the hysteresis loop vanishes; however, annealing the sample allows to its partial restoration. A replacement of acetonitrile by other nitriles leads to preservation of the polymeric structure and spin crossover, but no phase transition follows.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Direct Observation of Ordered High‐Spin–Low‐Spin Intermediate States of an Iron(III) Three‐Step Spin‐Crossover Complex

A neutral mononuclear Fe^III complex [Fe^III(H‐5‐Br‐thsa‐Me)(5‐Br‐thsa‐Me)]?H₂O ( 1 ; H₂‐5‐Br‐thsa‐Me=5‐bromosalicylaldehyde methylthiosemicarbazone) was prepared that exhibited a three‐step spin‐crossover (SCO) with symmetry breaking and a 14 K hysteresis loop owing to strong cooperativity. Two ordered intermediate states of 1 were observed, 4HS–2LS and 2HS–4LS, which exhibited reentrant phase‐transition behavior. This study provides a new platform for examining multistability in SCO complexes.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Non‐Porous Iron(II)‐Based Sensor: Crystallographic Insights into a Cycle of Colorful Guest‐Induced Topotactic Transformations

Materials capable of sensing volatile guests at room temperature by an easily monitored set of outputs are of great appeal for development as chemical sensors of small volatile organics and toxic gases. Herein the dinuclear iron(II) complex, [Fe^II₂( L )₂(CH₃CN)₄](BF₄)₄?2 CH₃CN ( 1 ) [ L =4‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐3‐(3‐pyridazinyl)‐5‐pyridyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole], is shown to undergo reversible single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) transformations upon exposure to vapors of different guests: 1 (MeCN)? 2 (EtOH)→ 3 (H₂O)? 1 (MeCN). Whilst 1 and 2 remain dimetallic, SCSC to 3 involves conversion to a 1D polymeric chain (due to a change in L bridging mode), which, remarkably, can undergo SCSC de‐polymerization, reforming dimetallic 1 . Additionally, SC‐XRD studies of two ordered transient forms, 1TF3 and 2TF3 , confirm that guest exchange occurs by diffusion of the new guests into the non‐porous lattices as the old guests leave. These reversible SCSC events also induce color and magnetic responses. Indeed dark red 1 is spin crossover active (T_1/2↓ 356 K; T_1/2↑ 369 K), whilst orange 2 and yellow 3 remain high spin.     

Local Coordination Geometry and Spin State in Novel FeII Complexes with 2,6‐Bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine‐Type Ligands as Controlled by Packing Forces: Structural Correlations

A substituted 2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine (3‐bpp) ligand, H₄L, created to facilitate intermolecular interactions in the solid, has been used to obtain four novel Fe^II complexes: [Fe(H₄L)₂](ClO₄)₂ ? 2 CH₃NO₂ ? 2 H₂O, [Fe(H₄L)(H₂LBF₂)](BF₄) ? 5 C₃H₆O (H₂LBF₂ is an in situ modified version of H₄L), [Fe(H₄L)₂](ClO₄)₂ ? 2 C₃H₇OH and [Fe(H₄L)₂](ClO₄)₂ ? 4 C₂H₅OH. Changing of spin‐inactive components (solvents, anions or distant ligand substituents) causes differences to the coordination geometry of the metal that are key to the magnetic proper‐ ties. Magnetic measurements show that, contrary to the previously published complex [Fe(H₄L)₂](ClO₄)₂ ? H₂O ? 2 CH₃COCH₃, the newly synthesised compounds remain in the high‐spin (HS) state at all temperatures (5–300 K). A member of the known family of Fe^II/3‐bpp complexes, [Fe(3‐bpp)₂](ClO₄)₂ ? 1.75 CH₃COCH₃ ? 1.5 Et₂O, has also been prepared and characterised structurally. In the bulk, this compound exhibits a gradual and incomplete spin transition near 205 K. The single‐crystal structure is consistent with it being HS at 250 K and partially low spin at 90 K. Structural analysis of all these compounds reveals that the exact configuration of intermolecular interactions affects dramatically the local geometry at the metal, which ultimately has a strong influence on the magnetic properties. Along this line, the geometry of Fe^II in all published 3‐bpp compounds of known structure has been examined, both by calculating various distortion indices (Σ, Θ, θ and Φ) and by continuous shape measures (CShMs). The results reveal correlations between some of these parameters and indicate that the distortions from octahedral geometry observed on HS systems are mainly due to strains arising from intermolecular interactions. As previously suggested with other related compounds, we observe here that strongly HS‐distorted systems have a larger tendency to remain in that state.     

Octacyanidorhenate(V) Ion as an Efficient Linker for Hysteretic Two‐Step Iron(II) Spin Crossover Switchable by Temperature,Light, and Pressure

A two‐step hysteretic Fe^II spin crossover (SCO) effect was achieved in programmed layered Cs{[Fe(3‐CNpy)₂][Re(CN)₈]}?H₂O ( 1 ) (3‐CNpy=3‐cyanopyridine) assembly consisting of cyanido‐bridged Fe^II‐Re^V square grid sheets bonded by Cs⁺ ions. The presence of two non‐equivalent Fe^II sites and the conjunction of 2D bimetallic coordination network with non‐covalent interlayer interactions involving Cs⁺, [Re^V(CN)₈]^3? ions, and 3‐CNpy ligands, leads to the occurrence of two steps of thermal SCO with strong cooperativity giving a double thermal hysteresis loop. The resulting spin‐transition phenomenon could be tuned by an external pressure giving the room‐temperature range of SCO, as well as by visible‐light irradiation, inducing an efficient recovery of the high‐spin Fe^II state at low temperatures. We prove that octacyanidorhenate(V) ion is an outstanding metalloligand for induction of a cooperative multistep, multiswitchable Fe^II SCO effect.     

Nanoporosity,Inclusion Chemistry,and Spin Crossover in Orthogonally Interlocked Two‐Dimensional Metal–Organic Frameworks

[Fe(tvp)₂(NCS)₂] ( 1 ) (tvp=trans‐(4,4′‐vinylenedipyridine)) consists of two independent perpendicular stacks of mutually interpenetrated two‐dimensional grids. This uncommon supramolecular conformation defines square‐sectional nanochannels (diagonal≈2.2 nm) in which inclusion molecules are located. The guest‐loaded framework 1@guest displays complete thermal spin‐crossover (SCO) behavior with the characteristic temperature T_1/2 dependent on the guest molecule, whereas the guest‐free species 1 is paramagnetic whatever the temperature. For the benzene–guest derivatives, the characteristic SCO temperature T_1/2 decreases as the Hammet σ_p parameter increases. In general, the 1@guest series shows large entropy variations associated with the SCO and conformational changes of the interpenetrated grids that leads to a crystallographic‐phase transition when the guest is benzonitrile or acetonitrile/H₂O.