Inducing Ferrimagnetic Exchange in 1D-FeSe2 Chains Using Heteroleptic Amine Complexes: [Fe(en)(tren)][FeSe2]2

[Fe(en)(tren)][FeSe2]2 (en = ethylenediamine, C2H8N2, tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, C6H18N4) has been synthesized by a mixed-ligand solvothermal method. Its crystal structure contains heteroleptic [Fe(en)(tren)]2+ complexes with distorted octahedral coordination, incorporated between 1D-FeSe2 chains composed of edge-sharing FeSe4 tetrahedra. The twisted octahedral coordination environment of the Fe-amine complex leads to partial dimerization of Fe-Fe distances in the FeSe2 chains so that the FeSe4 polyhedra deviate strongly from the regular tetrahedral geometry. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy reveals oxidation states of +3 for the Fechain atoms and +2 for the Fecomplex atoms. The close proximity of Fe atoms in the chains promotes ferromagnetic nearest neighbor interactions, as indicated by a positive Weiss constant, θ = +53.8(6) K, derived from the Curie-Weiss fitting. Magnetometry and heat capacity reveal two consecutive magnetic transitions below 10 K. DFT calculations suggest that the ordering observed at 4 K is due to antiferromagnetic intrachain interactions in the 1D-FeSe2 chains. The combination of two different ligands creates an asymmetric coordination environment that induces changes in the structure of the Fe-Se fragments. This synthetic strategy opens new ways to explore the effects of ligand field strength on the structure of both Fe-amine complexes and surrounding Fe-Se chains.

Abrupt Spin Transition in a Heteroleptic Fe(II) Complex with Pendant Naphthalene Functionality

A heteroleptic spin-crossover (SCO) complex, [Fe(tpma)(xnap-bim)](ClO₄)₂ (1; tpma = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, xnap-bim = 8,15-dihydrodiimidazo[1,2-a:2',1'-c]naphtho[2,3-f][1,4]diazocine), has been obtained by reacting a Fe(II) precursor salt with tetradentate tpma and bidentate xnap-bim ligands. Depending on crystallization conditions, two different solvates have been obtained, 1·2.25py·0.5H₂O and 1·py. The former readily loses the interstitial solvent to produce either a powder sample of 1 upon filtration or crystals of 1 if the solvent loss is slowed by placing the crystals of 1·2.25py·0.5H₂O in diethyl ether. In contrast, 1·py exhibits higher stability toward solvent loss. The crystal packing of both solvates and of the solvent-free structure features double columns of [Fe(tpma)(xnap-bim)]²⁺ cations formed by efficient π-π interactions between the pyridyl groups of tpma ligands, as well as by stacks supported by π-π interactions between interdigitated naphthalene fragments of xnap-bim ligands. While both solvates show a gradual SCO between the high-spin (HS) and low-spin (LS) states of the Fe(II) ion, solvent-free complex 1 exhibits an abrupt spin transition centered at 127 K, with a narrow 2 K thermal hysteresis. Complex 1 also shows a light-induced excited spin state trapping effect, manifested as LS → HS conversion upon irradiation with white light at 5 K. The metastable HS state relaxes to the ground LS state when heated above 65 K.

Heteroleptic iron(ii) complexes of chiral 2,6-bis(oxazolin-2-yl)-pyridine (PyBox) and 2,6-bis(thiazolin-2-yl)pyridine ligands – the interplay of two different ligands on the metal ion spin sate

The spin-crossover properties of [Fe(LR)L][ClO4]2 (LR = a chiral PyBox {L1R} or ThioPyBox {L2R} derivative) show subtle differences depending on the tridentate ‘L’ co-ligand.

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,...

Pyridyl-Thioethers as Capping Ligands for the Design of Heteroleptic Fe(II) Complexes with Spin-Crossover Behavior

Mononuclear heteroleptic complexes [Fe(tpma)(bimz)](ClO4)2 (1a), [Fe(tpma)(bimz)](BF4)2 (1b), [Fe(bpte)(bimz)](ClO4)2 (2a), and [Fe(bpte)(bimz)](BF4)2 (2b) (tpma = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, bpte = S,S′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-thioethane, bimz = 2,2′-biimidazoline) were prepared by reacting the corresponding Fe(II) salts with stoichiometric amounts of the ligands. All complexes exhibit temperature-induced spin crossover (SCO), but the SCO temperature is substantially lower for complexes 1a and 1b as compared to 2a and 2b, indicating the stronger ligand field afforded by the N2S2-coordinating bpte ligand relative to the N4-coordinating tpma. Our findings suggest that ligands with mixed N/S coordination can be employed to discover new SCO complexes and to tune the transition temperature of known SCO compounds by substituting for purely N-coordinating ligands.

Optimization of crystal packing in semiconducting spin-crossover materials with fractionally charged TCNQ δ- anions (0 < δ < 1)

Co-crystallization of the prominent Fe(ii) spin-crossover (SCO) cation, [Fe(3-bpp)2]2+ (3-bpp = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine), with a fractionally charged TCNQ δ- radical anion has afforded a hybrid complex [Fe(3-bpp)2](TCNQ)3·5MeCN (1·5MeCN, where δ = -0.67). The partially desolvated material shows semiconducting behavior, with the room temperature conductivity σ RT = 3.1 × 10-3 S cm-1, and weak modulation of conducting properties in the region of the spin transition. The complete desolvation, however, results in the loss of hysteretic behavior and a very gradual SCO that spans the temperature range of 200 K. A related complex with integer-charged TCNQ- anions, [Fe(3-bpp)2](TCNQ)2·3MeCN (2·3MeCN), readily loses the interstitial solvent to afford desolvated complex 2 that undergoes an abrupt and hysteretic spin transition centered at 106 K, with an 11 K thermal hysteresis. Complex 2 also exhibits a temperature-induced excited spin-state trapping (TIESST) effect, upon which a metastable high-spin state is trapped by flash-cooling from room temperature to 10 K. Heating above 85 K restores the ground-state low-spin configuration. An approach to improve the structural stability of such complexes is demonstrated by using a related ligand 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2'-yl)pyridine (bzimpy) to obtain [Fe(bzimpy)2](TCNQ)6·2Me2CO (4) and [Fe(bzimpy)2](TCNQ)5·5MeCN (5), both of which exist as LS complexes up to 400 K and exhibit semiconducting behavior, with σ RT = 9.1 × 10-2 S cm-1 and 1.8 × 10-3 S cm-1, respectively.

Iron(II) complexes with N2O2 coordinating Schiff base-like equatorial ligand and 1,2-bis(pyridin-2-ylethynyl)benzene as axial pincer ligand

Three new unique mononuclear iron(II) pincer complexes were synthesized using 1,2-bis(pyridin-2-ylethynyl)benzene as axially coordinating pincer ligand and N₂O₂ coordinating Schiff base-like equatorial ligands. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that all three complexes remain in the high spin state throughout the entire temperature range investigated. Reasons for this are restraining sterical interactions revealed in the single crystal x-ray structure analysis and extended DFT-computational studies of one of the pincer complexes. Those interactions also lead to the formation of unexpected side products during the synthesis such as a complex with two ethanol molecules as axial ligand, whose x-ray structure was determined.

Substituent dependence on the spin crossover behaviour of mononuclear Fe(ii) complexes with asymmetric tridentate ligands

Three mononuclear iron(ii) complexes of the formula [Fe^II(H₂L^1-3)₂](BF₄)₂·x(solv.) (H₂L^1-3 = 2-[5-(R-phenyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-yl] 6-benzimidazole pyridine; H₂L¹: R = 4-methylphenyl, H₂L², R = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, H₂L³, R = 2,3,4,5,6-pentamethylphenyl) (1, H₂L¹; 2, H₂L²; 3, H₂L³) with asymmetric tridentate ligands (H₂L^1-3) were synthesized and their structures and magnetic behaviour investigated. Significant structural distortions of the dihedral angles between phenyl and pyrazole groups were observed and found to depend on the nature of the substituent groups. Cryomagnetic studies reveal that 1 and 2 show gradual spin crossover behavior, while 3 remains in the high spin state between 1.8 and 300 K.

Investigation of SCO property–structural relationships in a family of mononuclear Fe(ii) complexes

Six complexes with the formula [FeL(NCE)₂] (E = S, Se, BH₃) have been reported. A survey of the magneto-structural relationship has been conducted.

Iron(ii) complexes of tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) and neutral bidentate ligands showing thermal- and photo-induced spin crossover

Three new mononuclear Fe(ii) complexes have been prepared and characterized by the combination of tetradentate tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) with three neutral bidentate ligands, such as ethylenediamine (en), 1,2-diaminopropane (pn) and 2-picolylamine (2-pic), in compounds [FeII(TPMA)(en)](ClO4)2 (1), [FeII(TPMA)(2-pic)](ClO4)2 (2) and [FeII(TPMA)(pn)](ClO4)2 (3). Structural and magnetic characterization demonstrates that the three compounds present a complete SCO behavior. The absence of strong intermolecular interactions and solvent molecules leads to reversible and gradual spin transitions. The different ligands allow tuning T1/2 from 130 K (2) to 325 K (3). The compound with the lowest T1/2 (2) shows the LIESST effect with a TLIESST of 43 K. Interestingly, the use of these relatively small bidentate ligands leads to the crystallization in non-centrosymmetric space groups in contrast with previous studies using other bidentate ligands.

Systematic dimensional reduction of the layered β-FeSe structure by solvothermal synthesis

Dimensional reduction of superconducting anti PbO-type iron selenide has been achieved by terminating the tetragonal square layers of FeSe_4/4 tetrahedra by ethylenediamine (en) ligands. We obtained three new structures in the Fe-Se-en system. Fe₃Se₄(en)₃ contains FeSe₂ single chains bridged via Fe(en)₃ complexes. Fe₁₀Se₁₂(en)₇ has Fe₂Se₃ double strands separated by Fe(en)₃ complexes and free en molecules. Fe_0.85Se(en)_0.3 conserves the tetragonal layers of bulk FeSe which are now widely separated by en molecules. Through systematic dilution of the solvent we were able to introduce an additional parameter in solvothermal synthesis and thus have control over the connectivity of the tetrahedra. Additionally, a phase diagram of the Fe-Se-en system is generated by variation of the reaction temperature. The magnetic properties of the FeSe derivatives range from superconductivity and antiferromagnetism to paramagnetism.

Mononuclear Fe(II) Complexes Based on the Methylpyrazinyl-Diamine Ligand: Chemical-, Thermo- and Photocontrol of Their Magnetic Switchability

Two new mononuclear Fe(II) complexes, [Fe(^2MeL_pz)(NCX)₂] (L = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis((pyrazin-2-yl)methyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and X = S (1), BH₃ (2)), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetic, optical reflectivity, and photomagnetic measurements. They have similar FeN₆ coordination environments offered by the tetradentate ligand with a cis-α conformation and two NCX^- coligands in cis positions. However, 1 and 2 have different molecular arrangements and crystal packings, and are isolated in orthorhombic Pbnb and monoclinic C2/c space groups, respectively. 1 remains in a high spin state (S = 2) over all temperatures while 2 undergoes a spin transition around 168 K with a small thermal hysteresis of about 0.4 K (at a temperature scan rate of 1.3 K min^-1). This phase transition, which can also be optically detected due to the associated marked change of the sample color, occurs between two structurally characterized phases, which exhibit Fe(II) complexes in their high spin and low spin states at high and low temperatures, respectively. The reversible photoswitching between these two states has also been confirmed at low temperatures using well separated wavelength irradiations.

Heteroleptic Fe(II) Complexes with N4S2 Coordination as a Platform for Designing Spin-Crossover Materials

Heteroleptic complexes [Fe(bpte)(bim)]X₂ and [Fe(bpte)(xbim)]X₂ (bpte = S,S'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-thioethane, bim = 2,2'-biimidazole, xbim = 1,1'-(α,α'-o-xylyl)-2,2'-biimidazole, X = ClO₄^-, BF₄^-, OTf^-) were prepared by reacting the corresponding Fe(II) salts with a 1:1 mixture of the ligands. All mononuclear complexes exhibit temperature-induced spin crossover (SCO) with the onset above room temperature. The SCO is rather gradual, due to low cooperativity of interactions between the cationic complexes, as revealed by crystal structure analyses. These complexes expand the range of the recently discovered Fe(II) SCO materials with {N₄S₂} coordination environment.

A series of tetraazalene radical-bridged M2 (M = CrIII, MnII, FeII, CoII) complexes with strong magnetic exchange coupling

The ability of tetraazalene radical bridging ligands to mediate exceptionally strong magnetic exchange coupling across a range of transition metal complexes is demonstrated. The redox-active bridging ligand N,N',N'',N'''-tetra(2-methylphenyl)-2,5-diamino-1,4-diiminobenzoquinone (NMePhLH2) was metalated to give the series of dinuclear complexes [(TPyA)2M2(NMePhL2-)]2+ (TPyA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, M = MnII, FeII, CoII). Variable-temperature dc magnetic susceptibility data for these complexes reveal the presence of weak superexchange interactions between metal centers, and fits to the data provide coupling constants of J = -1.64(1) and -2.16(2) cm-1 for M = MnII and FeII, respectively. One-electron reduction of the complexes affords the reduced analogues [(TPyA)2M2(NMePhL3-˙)]+. Following a slightly different synthetic procedure, the related complex [(TPyA)2CrIII2(NMePhL3-˙)]3+ was obtained. X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, and Mössbauer spectroscopy indicate the presence of radical NMePhL3-˙ bridging ligands in these complexes. Variable-temperature dc magnetic susceptibility data of the radical-bridged species reveal the presence of strong magnetic interactions between metal centers and ligand radicals, with simulations to data providing exchange constants of J = -626(7), -157(7), -307(9), and -396(16) cm-1 for M = CrIII, MnII, FeII, and CoII, respectively. Moreover, the strength of magnetic exchange in the radical-bridged complexes increases linearly with decreasing M-L bond distance in the oxidized analogues. Finally, ac magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that [(TPyA)2Fe2(NMePhL3-˙)]+ behaves as a single-molecule magnet with a relaxation barrier of Ueff = 52(1) cm-1. These results highlight the ability of redox-active tetraazalene bridging ligands to enable dramatic enhancement of magnetic exchange coupling upon redox chemistry and provide a rare opportunity to examine metal-radical coupling trends across a transmetallic series of complexes.

Bis(thiocyanato-κN)[tris(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine-κ4N]iron(II)

In the title complex, [Fe(NCS)₂(C₁₈H₁₈N₄)], the Fe^II cation is chelated by a tris­(2-pyridyl­meth­yl)amine ligand and coordin­ated by two thio­cyanate anions in a distorted N₆ octa­hedral geometry. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯S hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions between parallel pyridine rings of adjacent mol­ecules [centroid–centroid distance = 3.653 (3) Å] link the mol­ecules into a two-dimensional supra­molecular architecture. The structure contains voids of 124 (9) ų, which are free of solvent molecules.

Rigid biimidazole ancillary ligands as an avenue to bright deep blue cationic iridium(iii) complexes

Herein we report the synthesis and optoelectronic characterisation of three deep blue-emitting cationic iridium complexes, of the form [Ir(dFppy)₂(N^N)]PF₆, bearing biimidazole-type N^N ancillary ligands (dFppyH = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine). Complex 1 contains the parent biimidazole, biim, while 2 contains a dimethylated analog, dMebiim, and 3 contains an ortho-xylyl-tethered biimidzole, o-xylbiim. We explore a strategy of tethering the biimidazole in order to rigidify the complex and increase the photoluminescent quantum yield, culminating in deep blue (λ_max: 457 nm in MeOH at 298 K) ligand-centered emission with a very high photoluminescent quantum yield of 68% and microsecond emission lifetime. Density functional theory calculations elucidate the origin of such disparate excited state kinetics across this series, especially in light of virtually identical optoelectronic properties observed for these compounds.

Chemical excision of tetrahedral FeSe(2) chains from the superconductor FeSe: synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetism of Fe(3)Se(4)(en)(2)

Fragments of the superconducting FeSe layer, FeSe2 tetrahedral chains, were stabilized in the crystal structure of a new mixed-valent compound Fe3Se4(en)2 (en = ethylenediamine) synthesized from elemental Fe and Se. The FeSe2 chains are separated from each other by means of Fe(en)2 linkers. Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry reveal strong magnetic interactions within the FeSe2 chains which result in antiferromagnetic ordering below 170 K. According to DFT calculations, anisotropic transport and magnetic properties are expected for Fe3Se4(en)2. This compound offers a unique way to manipulate the properties of the Fe-Se infinite fragments by varying the topology and charge of the Fe-amino linkers.