High-Spin → Low-Spin Relaxation in [Fe(bpp)2](CF3SO3)2 H2O after LIESST and Thermal Spin-State Trapping—Dynamics of Spin Transition Versus Dynamics of Phase Transition

Achieving large thermal hysteresis in an anthracene-based manganese(II) complex via photo-induced electron transfer

Achieving magnetic bistability with large thermal hysteresis is still a formidable challenge in material science. Here we synthesize a series of isostructural chain complexes using 9,10-anthracene dicarboxylic acid as a photoactive component. The electron transfer photochromic Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ compounds with photogenerated diradicals are confirmed by structures, optical spectra, magnetic analyses, and density functional theory calculations. For the Mn²⁺ analog, light irradiation changes the spin topology from a single Mn²⁺ ion to a radical-Mn²⁺ single chain, further inducing magnetic bistability with a remarkably wide thermal hysteresis of 177 K. Structural analysis of light irradiated crystals at 300 and 50 K reveals that the rotation of the anthracene rings changes the Mn1–O2–C8 angle and coordination geometries of the Mn²⁺ center, resulting in magnetic bistability with this wide thermal hysteresis. This work provides a strategy for constructing molecular magnets with large thermal hysteresis via electron transfer photochromism.

Achieving magnetic bistability with large thermal hysteresis is still a challenge in material science. Here, the authors report a Mn(II) chain complex that enables light-induced magnetic bistability with a 177 K thermal hysteresis loop.

Iron(II) Complexes of 4-(Alkyldisulfanyl)-2,6-di(pyrazolyl)pyridine Derivatives. Correlation of Spin-Crossover Cooperativity with Molecular Structure Following Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Desolvation

The complex salts [Fe(L 1)2]X2 (1X 2 ; L 1 = 4-(isopropyldisulfanyl)-2,6-bis(pyrazolyl)pyridine; X- = BF4 -, ClO4 -) form solvated crystals from common organic solvents. Crystals of 1X 2 ·Me2CO show abrupt spin transitions near 160 K, with up to 22 K thermal hysteresis. 1X 2 ·Me2CO cocrystallizes with other, less cooperative acetone solvates, which all transform into the same solvent-free materials 1X 2 ·sf upon exposure to air, or mild heating. Conversion of 1X 2 ·Me2CO to 1X 2 ·sf proceeds in a single-crystal to single-crystal fashion. 1X 2 ·sf are not isomorphous with the acetone solvates, and exhibit abrupt spin transitions at low temperature with hysteresis loops of 30-38 K (X- = BF4 -) and 10-20 K (X- = ClO4 -), depending on the measurement method. Interestingly, the desolvation has an opposite effect on the SCO temperature and hysteresis in the two salts. The hysteretic spin transitions in 1X 2 ·Me2CO and 1X 2 ·sf do not involve a crystallographic phase change but are accompanied by a significant rearrangement of the metal coordination sphere. Other solvates 1X 2 ·MeNO2, 1X 2 ·MeCN, and 1X 2 ·H2O are mostly isomorphous with each other and show more gradual spin-crossover equilibria near room temperature. All three of these lattice types have similar unit cell dimensions and contain cations associated into chains through pairwise, intermolecular S···π interactions. Polycrystalline [Fe(L 2)2][BF4]2·MeNO2 (2[BF 4 ] 2 ·MeNO2; L 2 = 4-(methyldisulfanyl)-2,6-bis(pyrazolyl)pyridine) shows an abrupt spin transition just above room temperature, with an unsymmetrical and structured hysteresis loop, whose main features are reversible upon repeated thermal scanning.

Pronounced Magnetic Bistability in Highly Cooperative Mononuclear [Fe(Lnpdtz)2(NCX)2] Complexes

Molecular materials that exhibit stimuli-responsive bistability are promising candidates for the development of molecular switches and sensors. We herein report on the coexistence of a wide thermal hysteretic spin crossover (SCO) effect and a thermally inducible metastable high-spin state at low temperatures achieved with the two new complexes [Fe^II(L^npdtz)₂(NCX)₂] (X = S; Se), with L^npdtz being (2-naphthyl-5-pyridyl-1,2,4-thiadiazole) and X = S (1) and Se (2). Pronounced π-π-stacking of the aromatic side residues of the ligands enables strong intermolecular interactions, leading to abrupt SCO properties and broad magnetic hysteresis of 10 K for X = S and 58 K for X = Se. In this paper, we also present the pressure-induced spin-state switching around 0.8 GPa. A pronounced thermally induced excited spin state trapping (TIESST effect) is observed for the highly cooperative SCO compounds, which was experimentally followed by low-temperature single crystal structure analysis (20 K) and temperature-dependent Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Fluorinated Click-Derived Tripodal Ligands Drive Spin Crossover in both Iron(II) and Cobalt(II) Complexes

Control of the spin state of metal complexes is important because it leads to a precise control over the physical properties and the chemical reactivity of the metal complexes. Currently,...

Temperature dependence of desolvation effects in hydrogen-bonded spin crossover complexes

The synthesis, crystal structure and (photo)magnetic properties of the anhydrous spin crossover salt of formula [Fe(bpp)₂](C₆H₈O₄) (1) (bpp = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine; C₆H₈O₄ = adipate dianion), obtained by desolvation at 400 K of the original tetrahydrate in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC-SC) transformation, are reported. This work offers a comparison between this compound and the previously reported hydrated material ([Fe(bpp)₂](C₆H₈O₄)·4H₂O, 1·4H₂O), highlighting the significance of the thermal conditions used in the dehydration-rehydration processes. In both compounds, a hydrogen-bonded network between iron(ii) complexes and adipate anions is observed. The original tetrahydrate (1·4H₂O) is low-spin and desolvation at 450 K triggers a low-spin (LS) to high-spin (HS) transition to an amorphous phase that remains stable over the whole temperature range of study. Surprisingly, the dehydrated compound at 400 K (1) keeps the crystallinity, undergoes a partial spin crossover (T_1/2 = 180 K) and a quantitative LS to HS photomagnetic conversion at low temperatures, with a T(LIESST) value of 61 K.

A Reversible Hydrogen-Bond Isomerization Triggered by an Abrupt Spin Crossover near Room Temperature

The spin crossover salt [Fe(bpp)₂ ](isonicNO)₂ ⋅ 2.4 H₂ O (1⋅2.4 H₂ O) (bpp=2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine; isonicNO=isonicotinate N-oxide anion) exhibits a very abrupt spin crossover at T_1/2 =274.4 K. This triggers a supramolecular linkage (H-bond) isomerization that responds reversibly towards light irradiation or temperature change. Isotopic effects in the thermomagnetic behavior reveal the importance of hydrogen bonds in defining the magnetic state. Further, the title compound can be reversibly dehydrated to afford 1, a material that also exhibits spin crossover coupled to H-bond isomerization, leading to strong kinetic effects in the thermomagnetic properties.

Structural, magnetic and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of the [Fe(3-bpp)2](CF3COO)2 complex: role of crystal packing leading to an incomplete Fe(ii) high spin ⇋ low spin transition

Mononuclear complex [Fe(3-bpp)₂](CF₃COO)₂ exhibits a thermal (HS + HS) ⇋ (HS + LS) transition at ∼226 K which is not associated with any crystallographic transition.

Switching on thermal and light-induced spin crossover by desolvation of the [Fe(3-bpp)2](XO4)2·solvent (X = Cl, Re) compounds

Thermal desolvation is a very attractive method for post-synthetic modification of the physico-chemical properties of switchable materials. In this field of research, special attention is paid to the possibility of...

Elucidating the Structural Chemistry of a Hysteretic Iron(II) Spin-Crossover Compound From its Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Congeners

Annealing [FeL₂ ][BF₄ ]₂ ⋅2 H₂ O (L=2,6-bis-[5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]pyridine) affords an anhydrous material, which undergoes a spin transition at T_1/2 =205 K with a 65 K thermal hysteresis loop. This occurs through a sequence of phase changes, which were monitored by powder diffraction in an earlier study. [CuL₂ ][BF₄ ]₂ ⋅2 H₂ O and [ZnL₂ ][BF₄ ]₂ ⋅2 H₂ O are not perfectly isostructural but, unlike the iron compound, they undergo single-crystal-to-single-crystal dehydration upon annealing. All the annealed compounds initially adopt the same tetragonal phase but undergo a phase change near room temperature upon re-cooling. The low-temperature phase of [CuL₂ ][BF₄ ]₂ involves ordering of its Jahn-Teller distortion, to a monoclinic lattice with three unique cation sites. The zinc compound adopts a different, triclinic low-temperature phase with significant twisting of its coordination sphere, which unexpectedly becomes more pronounced as the crystal is cooled. Synchrotron powder diffraction data confirm that the structural changes in the anhydrous zinc complex are reproduced in the high-spin iron compound, before the onset of spin-crossover. This will contribute to the wide hysteresis in the spin transition of the iron complex. EPR spectra of copper-doped [Fe_0.97 Cu_0.03 L₂ ][BF₄ ]₂ imply its low-spin phase contains two distinct cation environments in a 2:1 ratio.

Synthesis, Structure, and Photomagnetic Properties of a Hydrogen-Bonded Lattice of [Fe(bpp)2]2+ Spin-Crossover Complexes and Nicotinate Anions

In this paper, we report on the synthesis, crystal structure, and photomagnetic properties of the spin-crossover salt of formula [Fe(bpp)2](C6H4NO2)2·4H2O (1·4H2O) (bpp = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine; C6H4NO2− = nicotinate anion). This compound exhibits a 3D supramolecular architecture built from hydrogen bonds between iron(II) complexes, nicotinate anions, and water molecules. As synthesized, the hydrated material is low-spin and desolvation triggers a low-spin (LS) to high-spin (HS) transformation. Anhydrous phase 1 undergoes a partial spin crossover (T1/2= 281 K) and a LS to HS photomagnetic conversion with a T(LIESST) value of 56 K.

Unravelling the spin-state of solvated [Fe(bpp)2]2+ spin-crossover complexes: structure-function relationship

This paper reports firstly the syntheses, crystal structures, and thermal and magnetic properties of spin crossover salts of formulae [Fe(bpp)₂]₃[Cr(CN)₆]₂·13H₂O (1) and [Fe(bpp)₂][N(CN)₂]₂·H₂O (2) (bpp = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine) exhibiting hydrogen-bonded networks of low-spin [Fe(bpp)₂]²⁺ complexes and [Cr(CN)₆]^3- or [N(CN)₂]^- anions, with solvent molecules located in the voids. Desolvation of 1 is accompanied by a complete low-spin (LS) to a high-spin (HS) transformation that becomes reversible after rehydration by exposing the sample to the humidity of air. The influence of the lattice water on the magnetic properties of spin-crossover [Fe(bpp)₂]X₂ complex salts has been documented. In most cases, it stabilises the LS state over the HS one. In other cases, it is rather the contrary. The second part of this paper is devoted to unravelling the reasons why the lattice solvent stabilises one form over the other through magneto-structural correlations of [Fe(bpp)₂]²⁺ salts bearing anions with different charge/size ratios (X^n-). The [Fe(bpp)₂]²⁺ stacking explaining these two different behaviours is correlated here with the composition of the second coordination sphere of the Fe centers and the ability of these anions to form hydrogen bonds and/or π-π stacking interactions between them or the bpp ligand.

Kinetics of spin crossover with thermal hysteresis

Non-isothermal kinetic studies of spin crossover allow establishing a reaction model of hysteretic spin state switching.

Spin-crossover compounds based on iron(ii) complexes of 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (bpp) functionalized with carboxylic acid and ethyl carboxylic acid

New salts of the iron(ii) bppCOOH and bppCOOEt spin crossover complexes have been studied.

Non-isothermal kinetics of spin crossover

Non-isothermal magnetic studies can be used to estimate the activation energy of cooperative spin transition.

Spin transitions in a series of [Fe(pybox)2]2+ complexes modulated by ligand structures, counter anions, and solvents

A new family of mononuclear Fe(ii) compounds is synthesized based on pybox ligands. Their spin-crossover behaviours can be effectively mediated by ligand structures, counter anions, and solvents.

A mononuclear iron(ii) complex: cooperativity, kinetics and activation energy of the solvent-dependent spin transition

A mononuclear iron(ii) pyrimidine-based complex shows remarkable spin crossover properties and unprecedented thermal robustness.

Compensation effects and relation between the activation energy of spin transition and the hysteresis loop width for an iron(ii) complex

Wide thermal hysteresis loops for iron(ii) spin crossover complexes are associated with high activation barriers: the higher the activation barrier, the wider the hysteresis loop for a series of related spin crossover systems.

Spin crossover with thermal hysteresis: practicalities and lessons learnt

Memory applications of spin crossover require bistability: magnetic data must be appropriately collected and reported, and consideration given to lifetimes.

Three-way crystal-to-crystal reversible transformation and controlled spin switching by a nonporous molecular material

Porous materials capable of hosting external molecules are paramount in basic and applied research. Nonporous materials able to incorporate molecules via internal lattice reorganization are however extremely rare since their structural integrity usually does not resist the guest exchange processes. The novel heteroleptic low-spin Fe(II) complex [Fe(bpp)(H2L)](ClO4)2·1.5C3H6O (1; bpp = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine, H2L = 2,6-bis(5-(2-methoxyphenyl)pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine) crystallizes as a compact discrete, nonporous material hosting solvate molecules of acetone. The system is able to extrude one-third of these molecules to lead to [Fe(bpp)(H2L)](ClO4)2·C3H6O (2), switching to the high-spin state while experiencing a profound crystallographic change. Compound 2 can be reversed to the original material upon reabsorption of acetone. Single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments on the latter system (1') and on 2 show that these are reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformations. Likewise, complex 2 can replace acetone by MeOH and H2O to form [Fe(bpp)(H2L)](ClO4)2·1.25MeOH·0.5H2O (3) through a SCSC process that also implies a switch to the spin state. The 3→1 transformation through acetone reabsorption is also demonstrated. Besides the spin switching at room temperature, this series of SCSC transformations causes macroscopic changes in color that can be followed by the naked eye. The reversible exchanges of chemicals are therefore easily sensed at the temperature at which these occur, contrary to what is the case for most of the few existing nonporous spin-based sensors, which feature a large temperature gap between the process monitored and the mechanism of detection.

A spin-crossover complex based on a 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (1-bpp) ligand functionalized with a carboxylate group

[Fe(bppCOOH)₂](ClO₄)₂ shows an abrupt spin transition (T_1/2 = 380 K, T_LIESST = 60 K) due to a hydrogen-bonded linear network of complexes.

Role of Fe-N-C geometry flip-flop in bistability in Fe(tetrazol-2-yl)4(C2H5CN)2-type core based coordination network

[Fe(ebtz)(2)(C(2)H(5)CN)(2)](ClO(4))(2) was prepared in the reaction of 1,2-di(tetrazol-2-yl)ethane (ebtz) with Fe(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O in propionitrile. The compound crystallizes as a one-dimensional (1D) network, where bridging of neighboring iron(II) ions by two ebtz ligand molecules results in formation of a [Fe(ebtz)(2)](∞) polymeric skeleton. The 1D chains are assembled into supramolecular layers with axially coordinated nitrile molecules directed outward. The complex in the high spin (HS) form reveals a very rare feature, namely, a bent geometry of the Fe-N-C(propionitrile) fragment (149.1(3)° at 250 K). The HS to low spin (LS) HS→LS transition triggers reorientation of the propionitrile molecule resulting in accommodation of a typical linear geometry of the Fe-N-C(nitrile) fragment. The switching of the propionitrile molecule orientation in relation to the coordination octahedron is associated with increase of the distance between the supramolecular layers. When the crystal is in the LS phase, raising the temperature does not cause reduction of the distance between supramolecular layers, which contributes to further stabilization of the more linear geometry of Fe-N-C(C(2)H(5)) and the LS form of the complex. Thus, a combination of Fe-N-C(C(2)H(5)) geometry lability and lattice effects contributes to the appearance of hysteretic behavior (T(1/2)(↓) ≈ 112 K, T(1/2)(↑) ≈ 141 K).