Molecular S = 2 High-Spin, S = 0 Low-Spin and S = 0 ⇄ 2 Spin-Transition/-Crossover Nickel(II)-Bis(nitroxide) Coordination Compounds

Heterospin systems have a great advantage in frontier orbital engineering since they utilize a wide diversity of paramagnetic chromophores and almost infinite combinations and mutual geometries. Strong exchange couplings are expected in 3d–2p heterospin compounds, where the nitroxide (aminoxyl) oxygen atom has a direct coordination bond with a nickel(II) ion. Complex formation of nickel(II) salts and tert-butyl 2-pyridyl nitroxides afforded a discrete 2p–3d–2p triad. Ferromagnetic coupling is favored when the magnetic orbitals, nickel(II) dσ and radical π*, are arranged in a strictly orthogonal fashion, namely, a planar coordination structure is characterized. In contrast, a severe twist around the coordination bond gives an orbital overlap, resulting in antiferromagnetic coupling. Non-chelatable nitroxide ligands are available for highly twisted and practically diamagnetic complexes. Here, the Ni–O–N–Csp2 torsion (dihedral) angle is supposed to be a useful metric to describe the nickel ion dislocated out of the radical π* nodal plane. Spin-transition complexes exhibited a planar coordination structure in a high-temperature phase and a nonplanar structure in a low-temperature phase. The gradual spin transition is described as a spin equilibrium obeying the van’t Hoff law. Density functional theory calculation indicates that the energy level crossing of the high- and low-spin states. The optimized structures of diamagnetic and high-spin states well agreed with the experimental large and small torsions, respectively. The novel mechanism of the present spin transition lies in the ferro-/antiferromagnetic coupling switch. The entropy-driven mechanism is plausible after combining the results of the related copper(II)-nitroxide compounds. Attention must be paid to the coupling parameter J as a variable of temperature in the magnetic analysis of such spin-transition materials. For future work, the exchange coupling may be tuned by chemical modification and external stimulus, because it has been clarified that the parameter is sensitive to the coordination structure and actually varies from 2J/kB = +400 K to −1400 K.

High-Spin and Incomplete Spin-Crossover Polymorphs in Doubly Chelated [Ni(L)2Br2] (L = tert-Butyl 5-Phenyl-2-pyridyl Nitroxide)

Complexation of nickel(II) bromide with tert-butyl 5-phenyl-2-pyridyl nitroxide (phpyNO) gave two morphs of doubly chelated [Ni(phpyNO)₂Br₂] as a 2p-3d-2p heterospin triad. The α phase crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn. An asymmetric unit involves a half-molecule. The torsion angle around Ni-O-N-C_2py is as small as 6.5(3)° at 100 K and 7.0(6)° at 400 K, guaranteeing an orthogonal arrangement between the magnetic radical π* and metal 3d_x²-y² and 3d_z² orbitals. Magnetic study revealed the high-spin ground state with the exchange coupling constant 2J/k_B = +288(5) K, on the basis of a symmetrical spin Hamiltonian. The β phase crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n. The whole molecule is an independent unit. The Ni-O-N-C_2py torsion angles are 24.2(6) and 37.2(5)° at 100 K and 10.4(7) and 25.9(6)° at 400 K. A magnetic study revealed a very gradual and nonhysteretic spin transition. An analysis based on the van't Hoff equation gave a successful fit with the spin-crossover temperature of 134(1) K, although the susceptibility did not reach the theoretical high-spin value at 400 K. Density functional theory calculation on the β phase showed ground S_total = 0 in the low-temperature structure while S_total = 2 in the high-temperature structure, supporting the synchronized exchange coupling switch on both sides. Consequently, the β phase can be recognized as an "incomplete spin crossover" material, as a result of conflicting thermal depopulation effects in a high-temperature region.

Iron(II) and 1,1,1-Tris(2-pyridyl)nonadecane Complex Showing an Order-Disorder-Type Structural Transition and Spin-Crossover Synchronized over Both Conformers

The title compound (Me₄N)[Fe{(2-py)₃C- n-C₁₈H₃₇}(NCS)₃] having a C₁₈ chain underwent spin-crossover (SCO). There are two crystallographically independent molecules in a triclinic cell at 100 K but only one in a monoclinic cell at 300 K. The complex showed a gradual one-step SCO in the same temperature region as that of the structural transition. The SCO is supported with the ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The molecules are differentiated on cooling, but the SCO was synchronized.

Spin-Crossover Temperature Predictable from DFT Calculation for Iron(II) Complexes with 4-Substituted Pybox and Related Heteroaromatic Ligands

Spin-crossover (SCO) is a reversible transition between low and high spin states by external stimuli such as heat. The SCO behavior and transition temperature (T _1/2) of a series of [Fe^II(X-pybox)₂](ClO₄)₂ were studied to establish a methodology for ligand-field engineering, where X-pybox stands for 2,6-bis(oxazolin-2-yl)pyridine substituted with X at the 4-position of the pyridine ring. We utilized X = MeO, Me, 3-thienyl, Ph, H, MeS, 2-thienyl, N₃, Cl, Br, 3-pyridyl, and 4-pyridyl. The solution susceptometry on five new derivatives with X = Me, 2-thienyl, N₃, Br, and 3-pyridyl was performed in acetone, giving the SCO temperatures of 220, 260, 215, 280, and 270 K, respectively. The density-functional-theory molecular orbital (MO) calculation was performed on the ligands with geometry optimization. The atomic charge on the pyridine nitrogen atom [ρ(N_py)] was extracted from the natural orbital population analysis. Positive correlation appeared in the T _1/2 versus ρ(N_py) plot with R ² = 0.734, being consistent with the analysis using the Hammett substituent constants (σ_p and σ_p ⁺). This finding well agrees with the mechanism proposed: the rich electron density lifts the t_2g energy level through the dπ-pπ interaction, resulting in a narrow t_2g-e_g energy gap and favoring the high-spin state and low T _1/2. The MO method was successfully applied to the known SCO-active iron(II) compounds involving 4-substituted 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridines. A distinct positive correlation appeared in the T _1/2 versus ρ(N_py) plot. The comparison of correlation coefficients indicates that ρ(N_py) is a more reliable parameter than σ_p or σ_p ⁺ to predict a shift of T _1/2. Furthermore, this method can be more generalized by application to another known SCO family having 3-azinyl-4-p-tolyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole ligand series, where azinyl stands for a 2-azaaromatic ring. A good linear correlation was found in the T _1/2 versus ρ(N_A) plot (N_A is the ligating nitrogen atom in the azaaromatic ring). Finally, we will state a reason why the present treatment is competent to predict the SCO equilibrium position only by consideration on the electronic perturbation.

Pybox-Iron(II) Spin-Crossover Complexes with Substituent Effects from the 4-Position of the Pyridine Ring (Pybox = 2,6-Bis(oxazolin-2-yl)pyridine)

Spin-crossover (SCO) behavior of a series of [Fe(X-pybox)2](ClO4)2 was investigated, where X-pybox stands for 4-X-substituted 2,6-bis(oxazolin-2-yl)pyridine with X = H, Cl, Ph, CH3O, and CH3S. We confirmed that the mother compound [Fe(H-pybox)2](ClO4)2 underwent SCO above room temperature. After X was introduced, the SCO temperatures (T1/2) were modulated as 310, 230, and 330 K for X = Cl, Ph, and CH3S, respectively. The CH3O derivative possessed the high-spin state down to 2 K. Crystallographic analysis for X = H, Cl, CH3O, and CH3S was successful, being consistent with the results of the magnetic study. Distorted coordination structures stabilize the HS (high-spin) state, and the highest degree of the coordination structure distortion is found in the CH3O derivative. A plot of T1/2 against the Hammett substituent constant σp showed a positive relation. Solution susceptometry was also performed to remove intermolecular interaction and rigid crystal lattice effects, and the T1/2’s were determined as 260, 270, 240, 170, and 210 K for X = H, Cl, Ph, CH3O, and CH3S, respectively, in acetone. The substituent effect on T1/2 became very distinct, and it is clarified that electron-donating groups stabilize the HS state.

Solvent Dependent Spin-State Behaviour via Hydrogen Bonding in Neutral FeII Diimine Complexes

We report the syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of cis-[Fe(pizR)2(NCS)2] complexes based on the pyridyl imidazoline ligands 2-(2′-pyridinyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazole (pizH, 1) and 2-(2′-pyridinyl)-4,5-dihydro-1-methylimidazole (pizMe, 2). The ligands, complexes, and magnetic measurements are chosen to separate hydrogen-bonding and intrinsic ligand field properties, so as to improve our understanding of the effect of hydrogen-bonding interactions on spin-state switching. In the solid state, both complexes are high spin between 5 and 300 K. In deuterated methanol and acetonitrile solutions, both complexes show gradual thermal spin crossover. Complex 1, capable of hydrogen bonding, shows solvent-sensitive spin crossover, whereas spin crossover in the methylated analogue 2 is insensitive to solvent identity.