Two new 4′,4′′-disubstituted dipyrazolylpyridine derivatives, and the structures and spin states of their iron(II) complexes

Iron(II) Complexes of 2,6-Di[4-(ethylcarboxy)pyrazol-1-yl]pyridine with Reversible Guest-Modulated Spin-Crossover Behavior

Three solvatomorphs of the iron(II) complex of 2,6-di[4-(ethylcarboxy)pyrazol-1-yl]pyridine (bpCOOEt₂p) of formulas [Fe(bpCOOEt₂p)₂](ClO₄)₂·1.5MeNO₂ (1), [Fe(bpCOOEt₂p)₂](ClO₄)₂·MeNO₂ (2), and [Fe(bpCOOEt₂p)₂](ClO₄)₂·2MeNO₂ (3) have been prepared and characterized. They show interesting spin-crossover (SCO) properties ranging from partial to complete thermal spin transitions and a light-induced excited spin-state trapping (LIESST) effect. In solvatomorph 2, a robust structure is formed with channels that enable the entrance or removal of solvent molecules by vapor diffusion without losing the crystallinity. Thus, solvent-exchanged samples [Fe(bpCOOEt₂p)₂](ClO₄)₂·MeNO₂ (2·MeNO ₂ ), [Fe(bpCOOEt₂p)₂](ClO₄)₂·MeCN (2·MeCN), [Fe(bpCOOEt₂p)₂](ClO₄)₂·0.5Me₂CO (2·Me ₂ CO), and [Fe(bpCOOEt₂p)₂](ClO₄)₂·MeCOOH (2·MeCOOH) were prepared by vapor diffusion of the solvents in a crystal of the compound previously heated to 400 K in a single-crystal to single-crystal (SCSC) fashion. Interestingly, this causes a change of spin state with a stabilization of the low-spin state in 2·Me ₂ CO and the high-spin state in 2·MeCN. Therefore, the SCO properties of 2 can be tuned in a reversible way by exposure to different solvents.

Quantitative Assessment of Ligand Substituent Effects on σ‐ and π‐Contributions to Fe−N Bonds in Spin Crossover Fe II Complexes

The effect of para‐substituent X on the electronic structure of sixteen tridentate 4‐X‐(2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl))‐pyridine (bpp^X) ligands and the corresponding solution spin crossover [Fe^II(bpp^X)₂]²⁺ complexes is analysed further, to supply quantitative insights into the effect of X on the σ‐donor and π‐acceptor character of the Fe‐N_A(pyridine) bonds. EDA‐NOCV on the sixteen LS complexes revealed that neither ΔE_orb,σ+π (R²=0.48) nor ΔE_orb,π (R²=0.31) correlated with the experimental solution T_1/2 values (which are expected to reflect the ligand field imposed on the iron centre), but that ΔE_orb,σ correlates well (R²=0.82) and implies that as X changes from EDG→EWG (Electron Donating to Withdrawing Group), the ligand becomes a better σ‐donor. This counter‐intuitive result was further probed by Mulliken analysis of the N_A atomic orbitals: N_A(p_x) involved in the Fe−N σ‐bond vs. the perpendicular N_A(p_z) employed in the ligand aromatic π‐system. As X changes EDG→EWG, the electron population on N_A(p_z) decreases, making it a better π‐acceptor, whilst that in N_A(p_x) increases, making it a better σ‐bond donor; both increase ligand field, and T_1/2 as observed. In 2016, Halcrow, Deeth and co‐workers proposed an intuitively reasonable explanation of the effect of the para‐X substituents on the

T_1/2 values in this family of complexes, consistent with the calculated MO energy levels, that M→L π‐backdonation dominates in these M−L bonds. Here the quantitative EDA‐NOCV analysis of the M−L bond contributions provides a more complete, coherent and detailed picture of the relative impact of M−L σ‐versus π‐bonding in determining the observed T_1/2, refining the earlier interpretation and revealing the importance of the σ‐bonding. Furthermore, our results are in perfect agreement with the ΔE(HS‐LS) vs. σ_p⁺(X) correlation reported in their work.

Probing the generality of spin crossover complex T½vs. ligand 15N NMR chemical shift correlations: towards predictable tuning

A study of 6 families (42 members) demonstrates that within a family the easily calculated 15N-NMR values of ligands enable predictable tuning of T1/2 in the corresponding complexes, except for 2 families with weakly influencing meta-substituents.

Spin-crossover iron(ii) complex showing thermal hysteresis around room temperature with symmetry breaking and an unusually high T(LIESST) of 120 K

The Fe(ii) complex of 4′,4′′ carboxylic acid disubstituted dipyrazolylpyridine shows spin-crossover around room temperature and the LIESST effect with T(LIESST) of 120 K.

Synthesis and electronic investigation of mono- and di-substituted 4-nitro- and 4-amino-pyrazol-1-yl bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine-type ligands and luminescent Eu(iii) derivatives

The synthesis of nitro- and amino-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridines was achieved, allowing for tuning of frontier orbital energies and Eu(iii) complex spectroscopic investigations.

An iron(ii) spin-crossover metallacycle from a back-to-back bis-[dipyrazolylpyridine]

Iron(ii) and zinc(ii) complexes of bis[2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)pyrid-4-yl]disulfide assemble into tetranuclear metallacycles according to ES-MS, DOSY NMR and conductivity data. The iron complex exhibits a thermal spin-state equilibrium in solution, which the iron centres appear to undergo independently of each other.

Structure:function relationships in molecular spin-crossover complexes

Spin-crossover compounds are becoming increasingly popular for device and sensor applications, and in soft materials, that make use of their switchable colour, paramagnetism and conductivity. The de novo design of new solid spin-crossover compounds with pre-defined switching properties is desirable for application purposes. This challenging problem of crystal engineering requires an understanding of how the temperature and cooperativity of a spin-transition are influenced by the structure of the bulk material. Towards that end, this critical review presents a survey of molecular spin-crossover compounds with good availability of crystallographic data. A picture is emerging that changes in molecular shape between the high- and low-spin states, and the ability of a lattice to accommodate such changes, can play an important role in determining the existence and the cooperativity of a thermal spin-transition in the solid state (198 references).