Two bidentate ligands (L1 = 1-pentyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole and L2 = 1-heptyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole) were employed for the synthesis of five mononuclear Fe(ii) coordination compounds 1-5 containing perchlorate, tetrafluoroborate and triflate counterions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the expected molecular structures of all the reported compounds, revealing a moderately distorted octahedral geometry of {FeN6} coordination chromophores. All five compounds exhibit thermal spin crossover with T1/2 temperatures allocated above 400 K. The theoretical calculations supported the experimental magnetic investigation and helped to explain the electronic structures of the reported complexes with respect to the occurrence of thermal spin state switching. In addition, compound 4 was employed for the preparation of Langmuir-Blodgett films and fabrication of molecular films using the method of spontaneous evaporation of the subphase. While the formation of Langmuir-Blodgett films was unsuccessful due to the instability of the compound at the water/air interface, the latter technique allowed the formation of molecular films of 4 with well-defined thickness and homogeneity.

The review presents several families of spin crossover (SCO) active Fe(II) coordination compounds with photoactive N-donor heterocyclic ligands, in which the photoinduced structural changes can activate reversible change of spin state and thus control magnetic properties under isothermal conditions. Detailed description of structural, spectral, and magnetic behavior for selected examples of photoisomerizable coordination compounds are provided. From the application point of view, light is an excellent tool to control SCO properties. The first and best known approach called Light Induced Excited Spin State Trapping (LIESST) has a significant technological limitation due to low temperatures (< 120 K) required for the trapping and existence of photoexcited metastable states. The second and more elegant approach known as Ligand-Driven Light-Induced Spin Crossover (LD-LISC) seems to be a very suitable strategy utilizing light-induced structural changes to control the spin. Isomerization of photoswitchable groups, such as azobenzenes or stilbenes, can cause reversible transformation between two isomeric forms after exposition to selective wavelengths at ambient temperature. A very recent third approach, the Guest-Driven Light-Induced Spin Crossover (GD-LISC) effect employing the photoisomerizable guest molecules to control the spin state has also been introduced.

Ruthenium complexes currently represent a perspective subject of investigation in terms of potential anticancer therapeutics. Eight novel octahedral ruthenium(II) complexes are the subject of this article. Complexes contain 2,2′-bipyridine molecules and salicylates as ligands, differing in position and type of halogen substituent. The structure of the complexes was determined via X-ray structural analysis and NMR spectroscopy. All complexes were characterized by spectral methods—FTIR, UV–Vis, ESI-MS. Complexes show sufficient stability in solutions. Therefore, their biological properties were studied. Binding ability to BSA, interaction with DNA, as well as in vitro antiproliferative effects against MCF-7 and U-118MG cell lines were investigated. Several complexes showed anticancer effects against these cell lines.

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

Series of phenylazo substituted pyridyl-benzimidazole ligands and their ferrous complexes have been prepared. Photoirradiation experiments allowed to investigate E–Z isomerisation of ligands, which was further rationalized by computational study.