Thermal and protonation-induced electron transfer coupled spin transition in a discrete [Fe2Co3] Prussian blue analogue

Multi-stimuli responsive switchable molecules have garnered interest for their potential applications in the field of magnetic materials. However, the persistent challenge lies in isolating these properties within the same material. Herein, we report a discrete [Fe2Co3] pentanuclear cyanide bridged complex, [Co(L)2]3[Fe(CN)6]2·20H2O, (1) (L = (Z)-N'-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)picolinimidamide) which undergoes electron transfer coupled spin transition (ETCST) from [FeII2CoIIHSCoIII2] to [FeIII2CoII3] configurations through thermal activation and upon protonation.

Structure of Tris[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine, Tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine, and Their Chalcogenides in Solution: Dipole Moments, IR Spectroscopy, and DFT Study

Tris(hetaryl)substituted phosphines and their chalcogenides are promising polydentate ligands for the design of metal complexes. An experimental and theoretical conformational analysis of tris[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine, tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine, and their chalcogenides was carried out by the methods of dipole moments, IR spectroscopy and DFT B3PW91/6-311++G(df,p) calculations. In solution, these compounds exist as an equilibrium of mainly non-eclipsed (synclinal or antiperiplanar) forms with a predominance of a symmetrical conformer having a gauche-orientation of the Csp3-Csp3 bonds of pyridylethyl substituents relative to the P=X bond (X = lone pair, O, S, Se) and a gauche-orientation of the pyridyl rings relative to the zigzag ethylene bridges. Regardless of the presence and nature of the chalcogen atom (oxygen, sulfur, or selenium) in the studied molecules with many axes of internal rotation, steric factors-the different position of the nitrogen atoms in the pyridyl rings and the configuration of ethylene bridges-determine the realization and spatial structure of preferred conformers.

Solution Spin Crossover Versus Speciation Effects: A Cautionary Tale

Two acyclic tetradentate Schiff base ligands, HL^X-OH (X = H and Br), were synthesised by 2:1 condensation of either 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde or 5-bromo-2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and 1,3-diamino-2-propanol and then used to prepare six mononuclear complexes, [Fe^II(HL^X-OH)(NCE)₂], with three different NCE co-ligands (E = BH₃, Se, and S). The apparent solution spin crossover switching temperature, T_1/2, of these 6 complexes, determined by Evans method NMR studies, is tuned by several factors: (a) substituent X present at the 5 position of the pyridine ring of the ligand, (b) E present in the NCE co-ligand, (c) solvent employed (P'), and (d) potentially also by speciation effects. In CD₃CN, for the pair of NCE = NCBH₃ complexes, when X = H, the complex is practically LS (extrapolated T_1/2 ∼624 K), whereas when X = Br, it is far lower (373 K), which implies a higher field strength when X = H than when it is Br. The same trend, X = H results in a higher apparent T_1/2 than X = Br, is seen for the other two pairs of complexes, with E = Se (429 > 351 K, ΔT_1/2 = 78 K) or S (361 > 342 K, ΔT_1/2 = 19 K). For the family of three X = Br complexes, the change of E from BH₃ (373 K) to Se (351 K) to S (342 K) leads to an overall ΔT_1/2(apparent) = 31 K, whereas the decreases are far more pronounced in the X = H family (BH₃ ∼624 > Se 429 > S 361 K). Changing the solvent used from CD₃CN to (CD₃)₂CO and CD₃NO₂, for [Fe^II(HL^Br-OH)(NCE)₂] with either E = BH₃ or S, revealed excellent, and very similar, positive linear correlations (R² = 0.99) of increasing solvent polarity index P' (from 5 to 7) with increasing apparent T_1/2 of the complex (E = BH₃ gave T_1/2 300 < 373 < 451 K , ΔT_1/2 = 151 K; E = S gave T_1/2 288 < 342 < 427 K, ΔT_1/2 = 147 K). Several other solvent parameters were also correlated with the apparent T_1/2 of these complexes (R² = 0.74-0.96). Excellent linear correlations (R² = 0.99) are also obtained with the coordination ability (a^TM) of the three NCE co-ligands with the apparent T_1/2 in both families of compounds, [Fe^II(HL^X-OH)(NCE)₂] where X = H or Br. The ¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts of the nitrogen atom in the three NCE co-ligands (direct measurement) show modest correlations (R² = 0.74 for L^H-OH family and 0.80 for L^Br-OH family) with the apparent T_1/2 values of the corresponding complexes.

Di-Iron(II) [2+2] Helicates of Bis-(Dipyrazolylpyridine) Ligands: The Influence of the Ligand Linker Group on Spin State Properties

Four bis[2-{pyrazol-1-yl}-6-{pyrazol-3-yl}pyridine] ligands have been synthesized, with butane-1,4-diyl (L¹ ), pyrid-2,6-diyl (L² ), benzene-1,2-dimethylenyl (L³ ) and propane-1,3-diyl (L⁴ ) linkers between the tridentate metal-binding domains. L¹ and L² form [Fe₂ (μ-L)₂ ]X₄ (X^- =BF₄ ^- or ClO₄ ^- ) helicate complexes when treated with the appropriate iron(II) precursor. Solvate crystals of [Fe₂ (μ-L¹ )₂ ][BF₄ ]₄ exhibit three different helicate conformations, which differ in the torsions of their butanediyl linker groups. The solvates exhibit gradual thermal spin-crossover, with examples of stepwise switching and partial spin-crossover to a low-temperature mixed-spin form. Salts of [Fe₂ (μ-L² )₂ ]⁴⁺ are high-spin, which reflects their highly twisted iron coordination geometry. The composition and dynamics of assembly structures formed by iron(II) with L¹ -L³ vary with the ligand linker group, by mass spectrometry and ¹ H NMR spectroscopy. Gas-phase DFT calculations imply the butanediyl linker conformation in [Fe₂ (μ-L¹ )₂ ]⁴⁺ influences its spin state properties, but show anomalies attributed to intramolecular electrostatic repulsion between the iron atoms.

Synthesis, crystal polymorphism and spin crossover behavior of adamantylboron-capped cobalt(II) hexachloroclathrochelate and its transformation into the CoIIICoIICoIII-bis-macrobicyclic derivative

Fast crystallization of the monoclathrochelate cobalt(II) intracomplex [Co(Cl₂Gm)₃(BAd)₂] (where Cl₂Gm^2- is a dichloroglyoxime dianion and BAd is an adamantylboron capping group, 1), initially obtained by the direct template condensation of the corresponding chelating α-dioximate and cross-linking ligand synthons on the Co²⁺ ion as a matrix, from benzene or dichloromethane afforded its structural triclinic and hexagonal polymorphs. Its prolonged recrystallization from dichloromethane under air atmosphere and sunlight irradiation unexpectedly gave the crystals of the Co^IIICo^IICo^III-trinuclear dodecachloro-bis-clathrochelate intracomplex [[Co^III(Cl₂Gm)₃(BAd)]₂Co^II] (2), the molecule of which consists of two macrobicyclic frameworks with encapsulated low-spin (LS) Co³⁺ ions, which are cross-linked by a μ₃-bridging Co²⁺ ion as a bifunctional Lewis-acidic center. The most plausible pathway of such a 1 → 2 transformation is based on the photoinitiated radical oxidation of dichloromethane with air oxygen giving the reactive species. Cobalt(II) monoclathrochelate 1 was found to undergo a temperature-induced spin crossover (SCO) both in its solutions and in the solid state. In spite of the conformational rigidity of the corresponding quasiaromatic diboron-capped tris-α-dioximate framework, the main parameters of this SCO transition (i.e., its completeness and gradual character) are strongly affected by the nature of the used solvent (in the case of its solutions) and by the structural polymorphism of its crystals (in the solid state). In the latter case, the LS state (S = 1/2) of this complex is more thermally stable and, therefore, the cobalt(II)-centered 1/2 → 3/2 SCO is more gradual than that in solutions.

Tuning the electron transfer events in a series of cyanide-bridged [Fe2Co2] squares according to different electron donors

It has been recognized that both the ligand fields and intermolecular interactions may greatly impact the electron-transfer-coupled spin transition (ETCST) events in switchable magnetic materials; however, the engineering of these factors within a given system is still challenging. In this article, we chose the 4,4'-substituent 2,2'-bipyridine derivatives as chelating ligands according to their increasing electron-donating strength and incremental potential for forming hydrogen bonds (bpy^CHO,CH₃(L1) < bpy^{CH₂OH,CH₃} (L2) < bpy^{CH₂OH,CH₂OH} (L3)), and prepared three new [Fe₂Co₂] complexes, {[(Tp*)Fe(CN)₃Co(L)₂]₂[ClO₄]₂}·Sol (1, L = L1, Sol = 4MeCN·2H₂O; 2, L = L2, Sol = 3MeCN; 3, L = L3, Sol = 4MeOH; Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate). X-ray crystallography studies revealed that all the complexes share similar cyanide-bridged [Fe₂Co₂] square compositions except for the different substituted groups of L ligands, which led to the clearly evidenced intercluster hydrogen bonds between the neighbouring hydroxyl groups in 2 and 3. As a result, 1 remained in the paramagnetic [FeIII,LS2CoII,HS2] state over the whole temperature range, while 2 and 3 showed complete ETCST behaviour with the transition temperatures (T_1/2) being 221 and 294 K, respectively.

Mixed-valence {FeII2FeIII4} hexanuclear complexes with thermally induced Fe(III) spin crossover behavior

Cyano-bridged mixed-valence {Fe6} hexanuclear complexes {[Tp4-MeFeII(CN)3]2[FeIII(Tpa)]2[FeIII(OR)(Tpa)]2}·6ClO4·S {Tp4-Me = tri(4-methyl-pyrazol-1-yl)borate, Tpa = Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; R = -CH3 S = 8MeOH 1, R = -C2H5 S = 6EtOH 2 } have been obtained...