Spin-Crossover Phenomenon in a Pentanuclear Iron(II) Cluster Helicate

Cluster helicates: promising functional materials

Cluster helicates are a new type of supramolecular architecture that consists of a metal cluster wrapped around by ligands arranged in a helical mode. This class of compounds combines the unique properties of metal clusters with the sophisticated chiral arrangement found in helicates. Therefore, these architectures show promising applications in the development of advanced materials with specific electronic, magnetic, optical, catalytic and biological properties. This review delves into a few pioneering studies on cluster helicates and their applications as nanomagnetic, nanoelectric and catalyst materials. Furthermore, it emphasises the necessity for further exploration in this area and the fields related to the functional applications that cluster helicates can bring to the future of materials science.

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.

A Family of Heterobimetallic Cubes Shows Spin-Crossover Behaviour Near Room Temperature

Using 4-(4'-pyridyl)aniline as a simple organic building block in combination with three different aldehyde components together with metal(II) salts gave three different Fe8 Pt6 -cubes and their corresponding Zn8 Pt6 analogues by employing the subcomponent self-assembly approach. Whereas the use of zinc(II) salts gave rise to diamagnetic cages, iron(II) salts yielded metallosupramolecular cages that show spin-crossover behaviour in solution. The spin-transition temperature T1/2 depends on the incorporated aldehyde component, giving a construction kit for the deliberate synthesis of spin-crossover compounds with tailored transition properties. Incorporation of 4-thiazolecarbaldehyde or N-methyl-2-imidazole-carbaldehyde yielded cages that undergo spin-crossover around room temperature whereas the cage obtained using 1H-4-imidazolecarbaldehyde shows a spin-transition at low temperatures. Three new structures were characterized by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and all structures were characterized by mass spectrometry, NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy.

Controlling dynamic magnetic properties of coordination clusters via switchable electronic configuration

Large-sized coordination clusters have emerged as a new class of molecular materials in which many metal atoms and organic ligands are integrated to synergize their properties. As dynamic magnetic materials, such a combination of multiple components functioning as responsive units has many advantages over monometallic systems due to the synergy between constituent components. Understanding the nature of dynamic magnetism at an atomic level is crucial for realizing the desired properties, designing responsive molecular nanomagnets, and ultimately unlocking the full potential of these nanomagnets for practical applications. Therefore, this review article highlights the recent development of large-sized coordination clusters with dynamic magnetic properties. These dynamic properties can be associated with spin transition, electron transfer, and valence fluctuation through their switchable electronic configurations. Subsequently, the article also highlights specialized characterization techniques with different timescales for supporting switching mechanisms, chemistry, and properties. Afterward, we present an overview of coordination clusters (such as cyanide-bridged and non-cyanide assemblies) with dynamic magnetic properties, namely, spin transition and electron transfer in magnetically bistable systems and mixed-valence complexes. In particular, the response mechanisms of coordination clusters are highlighted using representative examples with similar transition principles to gain insights into spin state and mixed-valence chemistry. In conclusion, we present possible solutions to challenges related to dynamic magnetic clusters and potential opportunities for a wide range of intelligent next-generation devices.

Extension of Azine-Triazole Synthesis to Azole-Triazoles Reduces Ligand Field, Leading to Spin Crossover in Tris-L Fe(II)

The first examples of azole-triazole Rat ligands, bidentate L^4NMeIm(3-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-5-phenyl-4-(p-tolyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole) and L^4SIm (4-(5-phenyl-4-(p-tolyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thiazole), have been prepared, by extension of the general synthesis used to access many examples of azine-triazoles. The tris-L Fe^II complexes of the azine-triazoles are consistently low spin (LS). As intended, these new azole-triazole ligands provide lower field strengths, resulting in high-spin (HS) [Fe^II(L^4NMeIm)₃](BF₄)₂ (1·4H₂O) and spin crossover (SCO) active [Fe^II(L^4SIm)₃](BF₄)₂ (2·0.5H₂O). Single-crystal structure determinations revealed that at 100 K 1·solvents is HS whereas 2·solvents is LS. Solid-state variable temperature magnetic studies of air-dried crystals showed that the methylimidazole-triazole complex 1·4H₂O remains HS while the thiazole-triazole complex 2·0.5H₂O undergoes a two-step gradual SCO (T_1/2 approximately 275 and 350 K). Variable-temperature Evans method NMR studies of 2, in five different solvents (CD₃NO₂, CD₃CN, CD₃COCD₃, CD₂Cl₂, and CDCl₃) gave T_1/2 values in a relatively narrow range, 214-259 K. These T_1/2 values did not correlate with the solvent polarity index P' (R² = 0.25) but did correlate with the solvent basicity parameter SB (R² = 0.90). Variable-temperature UV-vis studies on a golden yellow CH₃CN solution of 2, with monitoring of the d-d transition at 530 nm (ε = 39 L mol^-1 cm^-1 at 293 K) while the solution was heated from 253 to 303 K, showed that the high-spin fraction increased from 0.51 to 0.77. Cyclic voltammetry studies in CH₃CN revealed a Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox process that was reversible for 1 and irreversible for 2, with significant tuning of the E_pa value: the methylimidazole-triazole complex 1 is significantly easier to oxidize (0.46 V) than the thiazole-triazole complex 2 (0.68 V; both vs 0.01 M Ag/AgNO₃).

Physical stimulus and chemical modulations of bistable molecular magnetic materials

In this Feature Article, we summarize the recent progress made in modulating the multifaceted magnetic behaviour of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) and spin-crossover (SCO) materials based on chemical modifications and external stimuli.

Syntheses, structures, magnetism and electrocatalytic oxygen evolution for four cobalt, manganese and copper complexes with dinuclear, 1D and 3D structures

Structures, magnetism and electrocatalytic oxygen evolution for four dinuclear, 1D and 3D complexes based on transition metals were reported.

Varied spin crossover behaviour in a family of dinuclear Fe(ii) triple helicate complexes

Dinuclear triple-helicate complexes of the formula [Fe2L3](BF4)4·solv (solv = CH3CN, CHCl3, H2O) have been synthesised and structurally characterised. The bis-bidentate ligands, L, present either strong-field 2-pyridylimine (1) or weaker-field 2-imidazolylimine (2) and 4-imidazolylimine (3) coordination spheres about Fe(ii) centres in an octahedral geometry. Whereas 1 is pervasively diamagnetic, spin crossover (SCO) behaviour is observed in 2 and 3 and has been studied using variable-temperature structural, UV-visible spectroscopic, magnetic and photo-magnetic techniques. Variable-temperature (1.8-400 K) magnetic-susceptibility measurements reveal the T1/2 values of 2 and 3 to be strongly dependent upon the solvent and degree of solvation. Photomagnetic studies at 10 K under white-light irradiation revealed an inefficient photo-induced SCO in 2, but full switching in 3.

Tuning the Spin States of Two Apical Iron(II) Ions in a Pentanuclear Iron(II) Cluster Helicate through the Choice of Anions

Spin-crossover clusters with iron(II) high nuclearity are rare. By using 3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (bptH) as the ligand with two bidentate chelating sites, we successfully obtained three pentanuclear iron(II) cluster helicate compounds [{FeII(μ-bpt)3}2FeII3(μ3-O)][FeII2(μ-Br)(μ-bpt)(NCS)4(H2O)]·2H2O·C2H5OH (1), [{FeII(μ-bpt)3}2FeII3(μ3-O)][FeII2(μ-bpt)2(NCS)4] (2), and [{FeII(μ-bpt)3}2FeII3(μ3-O)]I2·2C2H5OH (3). Research on single-crystal structure and magnetism has indicated that tuning the spin state of two iron(II) ions in axial direction is successfully realized by regulating the different counter anions: one apical [FeII(bpt)3]− unit exhibits spin-crossover behavior while the other [FeII(bpt)3]− unit remains in low spin state in 1, both apical ions are of high spin states in 2, and are of low spin states in 3.

Spin crossover in discrete polynuclear iron(ii) complexes

A comprehensive review of 127 dinuclear to octanuclear complexes, mostly 2012-present, reveals key design features and future directions for spin crossover active supramolecular assemblies.

Self-assembly of rare octanuclear quad(double-stranded) cluster helicates showing slow magnetic relaxation and the magnetocaloric effect

Four rare structurally novel octanuclear quad(double-strands) cluster helicates containing Ln8 polyhedron cores have been synthesized. Magnetic studies show that the Gd derivative exhibits the magnetocaloric effect and the Dy derivative shows slow magnetic relaxation under zero dc field.

Magnetic fluorescent bifunctional spin-crossover complexes

Bifunctional fluorescent spin crossover complexes exhibit thermally and light induced conversion from the low spin to the high spin state, as well as fluorescence emission.

Spin state switching of metal complexes by visible light or hard X-rays

Different kinds of stimuli to induce spin crossover in iron compounds are covered, focusing on electromagnetic irradiation-induced spin state switching phenomena in mono- as well as multinuclear coordination compounds.