New publication in Inorganic Chemistry online
Iron is an element that can adopt different oxidation and spin states. Hence it is interesting in the field of metal complexes if it is possible to switch with a complex between different states. The system we synthesized offers more than one way to switch. On one hand, altering the temperature in solution leads to a classical spin crossover (SCO), on the other hand altering the coordination sphere leads to a change of spin state (CISSS). The change in coordination sphere is possible due to change of the solvent or varying the ligand-to-metal ratio, where the latter is reversible. With both ways we could obtain a bismeridional coordination motive for the first time in the ligand family of bis(pyrazolyl)methanes. Introducing more steric demanding groups to the ligand suppresses this behavior. This detailed study shows, that the impact of solvents is not neglectable and that structures in solid and solution do not have to be identical.
The article Interplay of Spin Crossover and Coordination-Induced Spin State Switch for Iron Bis(pyrazolyl)methanes in Solution is available on the webpage of the publisher.