High-Temperature Cooperative Spin Crossover Transitions and Single-Crystal Reflection Spectra of [FeIII(qsal)2](CH3OSO3) and Related Compounds

Spin crossover iron complexes with spin transition near room temperature based on nitrogen ligands containing aromatic rings: from molecular design to functional devices

During last decades, significant advances have been made in iron-based spin crossover (SCO) complexes, with a particular emphasis on achieving reversible and reproducible thermal hysteresis at room temperature (RT). This pursuit represents a pivotal goal within the field of molecular magnetism, aiming to create molecular devices capable of operating in ambient conditions. Here, we summarize the recent progress of iron complexes with spin transition near RT based on nitrogen ligands containing aromatic rings from molecular design to functional devices. Specifically, we discuss the various factors, including supramolecular interactions, crystal packing, guest molecules and pressure effects, that could influence its cooperativity and the spin transition temperature. Furthermore, the most recent advances in their implementation as mechanical actuators, switching/memories, sensors, and other devices, have been introduced as well. Finally, we give a perspective on current challenges and future directions in SCO community.

Spin Crossover in [Fe(qsal-5-Brq)2]+ Complexes with a Quinoline-Substituted Qsal Ligand

Using a quinoline substituted Qsal ligand, Hqsal-5-Brq (Hqsal-5-Brq = N-(5-bromo-8-quinolyl)salicylaldimine), four FeIII complexes, [Fe(qsal-5-Brq)2]A·CH3OH (Y = NO3- (1NO3), BF4- (2BF4), PF6- (3PF6), OTf- (4OTf), were prepared and characterized. Structure analysis revealed that complex 2BF4 contained two species (2BF4(P1̅) and 2BF4(C2/c)). In these compounds except 3PF6, the [Fe(qsal-5-Brq)2]+ cations form 1D chains through π-π interactions and other weak interactions. Adjacent chains are connected to form the 2D "Chain Layer" structures and 3D structures through various supramolecular interactions. For 3PF6, a "Dimer Chain" structure is formed from the loosely connected dimers. Magnetic studies revealed that compounds 1NO3 and 2BF4(P1̅) displayed abrupt hysteretic SCO with the transition temperature T1/2↓ = 235 K, T1/2↑ = 240 K for 1NO3 and T1/2↓ = 230 K, T1/2↑ = 235 K for 2BF4(P1̅), while compounds 3PF6 and 4OTf are in the HS state. Desolvation of the complexes significantly modifies their SCO properties: the desolvated 1NO3 and 2BF4 show a gradual SCO, desolvated 3PF6 undergoes a two-step SCO, and desolvated 4OTf exhibits a hysteretic transition. Overall, this work reported the FeIII-SCO complexes of the quinoline-substituted Hqsal ligand and highlighted the potential of these ligands for the development of interesting FeIII-SCO materials.

Bidirectional photoswitchability in an iron(iii) spin crossover complex: symmetry-breaking and solvent effects

The impact of solvent on spin crossover (SCO) behaviour is reported in two solvates [Fe(qsal-I)₂]NO₃·2ROH (qsal-I = 4-iodo-2-[(8-quinolylimino)methyl]phenolate; R = Me 1 or Et 2) which undergo abrupt and gradual SCO, respectively. A symmetry-breaking phase transition due to spin-state ordering from a [HS] to [HS-LS] state occurs at 210 K in 1, while T_1/2 = 250 K for the EtOH solvate, where complete SCO occurs. The MeOH solvate exhibits LIESST and reverse-LIESST from the [HS-LS] state, revealing a hidden [LS] state. Moreover, photocrystallographic studies on 1 at 10 K reveal re-entrant photoinduced phase transitions to a high symmetry [HS] phase when irradiated at 980 nm or a high symmetry [LS] phase after irradiation at 660 nm. This study represents the first example of bidirectional photoswitchability and subsequent symmetry-breaking from a [HS-LS] state in an iron(iii) SCO material.

Structural and theoretical insights into solvent effects in an iron(III) SCO complex

Alcohol effects in a series of iron(III) spin crossover complexes [Fe(qsal-Cl)2]NO3·ROH (R = Me 1, Et 2, 1-Pr 3) are explored. Despite the solvents differing from each other by only...

Structural studies into the spin crossover behaviour of Fe(abpt)2(NCS)2 polymorphs B and D

Crystallographic analysis of the spin-crossover behaviour of [Fe(abpt)₂(NCS)₂], polymorph B and D, is presented focusing particularly on the high pressure structures.

The Impact of the Next-Nearest Neighbor Dispersion Interactions on Spin Crossover Transition Enthalpy Evidenced by Experimental and Computational Analyses of Neutral π-Extended Heteroleptic Fe(III) Complexes

A neutral heteroleptic Fe(III) complex 1 derived from a π-extension of the parent complex 2 was prepared and characterized. Complex 1 exhibited an abrupt spin crossover (SCO) transition exactly at room temperature (T_SCO = 298 K). A crystal structure analysis of 1 revealed that the Fe(III) complex molecules formed a three-dimensional π-stacking interaction network. To thermodynamically clarify the mechanism of the SCO transition, the thermodynamic parameters of the SCO transitions for 1 and 2 were deduced from the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility in the solid and solution states using the regular solution model. A comparison of the SCO enthalpy difference between the solid and molecule for 1 and 2 revealed that the lattice enthalpy difference would largely contribute to the SCO transition enthalpy difference. A computational evaluation of intermolecular interactions and lattice energies before and after the SCO transitions in 1 and 2 disclosed the significant contribution of the next-nearest neighbor dispersion interactions to the lattice enthalpy differences. This finding indicates that not only conventional nearest neighbor intermolecular interactions but also next-nearest neighbor dispersion interactions should be taken into account to understand the fundamental mechanism of a phase transition in molecular solids.

Synthesis and Applications of New Spin Crossover Compounds

The spin crossover (SCO) between multi-stable states in transition metal material is one of the attractive molecular switching phenomena which is responsive to various external stimuli such as temperature, pressure, light, electromagnetic field, radiation, nuclear decay, soft-X-ray, guest molecule inclusion, chemical environments and so forth [...]

Iron(II) Spin Crossover Complex with the 1,2,3-Triazole-Containing Linear Pentadentate Schiff-Base Ligand and the MeCN Monodentate Ligand

A mononuclear iron(II) complex bearing the linear pentadentate N5 Schiff-base ligand containing two 1,2,3-triazole moieties and the MeCN monodentate ligand, [FeIIMeCN(L3-Me-3Ph)](BPh4)2·MeCN·H2O (1), have been prepared (L3-Me-3Ph = bis(N,N′-1-Phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl-methylideneaminopropyl)methylamine). Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed an incomplete one-step spin crossover (SCO) from the room-temperature low-spin (LS, S = 0) state to a mixture of the LS and high-spin (HS, S = 2) species at the higher temperature of around 400 K upon first heating, which is irreversible on the consecutive cooling mode. The magnetic modulation at around 400 K was induced by the crystal-to-amorphous transformation accompanied by the loss of lattice MeCN solvent, which was evident from powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies and themogravimetry. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies showed that the complex is in the LS state (S = 0) between 296 and 387 K. In the crystal lattice, the complex-cations and B(1)Ph4− ions are alternately connected by intermolecular CH···π interactions between the methyl group of the MeCN ligand and phenyl groups of B(1)Ph4− ions, forming a 1D chain structure. The 1D chains are further connected by P4AE (parallel fourfold aryl embrace) interactions between two neighboring complex-cations, constructing a 2D extended structure. B(2)Ph4− ions and MeCN lattice solvents exist in the spaces of the 2D layer. DFT calculations verified that the 1,2,3-triazole-containing ligand L3-Me-3Ph gives a stronger ligand field around the octahedral coordination environment of the iron(II) ion than the analogous imidazole-containing ligand H2L2Me (= bis(N,N′-2-methylimidazol-4-yl-methylideneaminopropyl)methylamine) of the known compound [FeIIMeCN(H2L2Me)](BPh4)1.5·Cl0.5·0.5MeCN (2) reported by Matsumoto et al. (Nishi, K.; Fujinami, T.; Kitabayashi, A.; Matsumoto, N. Tetrameric spin crossover iron(II) complex constructed by imidazole⋯chloride hydrogen bonds. Inorg. Chem. Commun. 2011, 14, 1073–1076), resulting in the much higher spin transition temperature of 1 than that of 2.