Cobalt dioxolenes are a well-known class of switchable coordination compounds showing an intramolecular electron transfer, which is always accompanied by a spin state change at the cobalt center. Here, we present the very first example of such bistable species where an intramolecular electron transfer does take place, but the spin state change is suppressed.

The molecular spin-crossover phenomenon between high-spin (HS) and low-spin (LS) states is a promising route to next-generation information storage, sensing applications, and molecular spintronics. Spin-crossover complexes also provide a unique opportunity to study the ligand field (LF) properties of a system in both HS and LS states while maintaining the same ligand environment. Presently, we employ complementing valence and core-level spectroscopic methods to probe the electronic excited-state manifolds of the spin-crossover complex [FeII(H2B(pz)2)2phen]0. Light-induced excited spin-state trapping (LIESST) at liquid He temperatures is exploited to characterize magnetic and spectroscopic properties of the photoinduced HS state using SQUID magnetometry and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. In parallel, Fe 2p3d RIXS spectroscopy is employed to examine the ΔS = 0, 1 excited LF states. These experimental studies are combined with state-of-the-art CASSCF/NEVPT2 and CASCI/NEVPT2 calculations characterizing the ground and LF excited states. Analysis of the acquired LF information further supports the notion that the spin-crossover of [FeII(H2B(pz)2)2phen]0 is asymmetric, evidenced by a decrease in eπ in the LS state. The results demonstrate the power of cross-correlating spectroscopic techniques with high and low LF information content to make accurate excited-state assignments, as well as the current capabilities of ab initio theory in interpreting these electronic properties.

Intramolecular electron transfer without accompanying spin-crossover in cobalt bis-dioxolenes has been observed for the first time.

Switchable valence tautomeric metal complexes have been long suggested for applications as chemosensors. However, no such molecular sensors have been yet reported. Here, we present a concept for sensing and the first prototype molecular sensor based on valence tautomeric cobalt-dioxolenes. A valence tautomeric cobalt-dioxolene complex [ls-CoIII(SQ•)(Cat)(stypy)2] ⇄ [hs-CoII(SQ•)2(stypy)2] 1 (ls = low spin, hs = high spin, Cat = 3,5-di-tert-butylcatecholate(2-), SQ = one-electron oxidized, benzosemiquinone(1-) form of Cat, stypy = trans-4-styrylpyridine) has been used as a molecular sensor. The lability of axial stypy ligands of 1 in solution allows us to exchange stypy ligands by dimethyl sulfoxide and simple pyridine analytes in a controllable way, which triggers colorimetric and magnetic responses.

One-way photoisomerization of ligands within metal complexes is an almost unknown phenomenon. We disclosed that a diarylethene-based ligand L-o undergoes quantitative irreversible photoisomerization to a photo- and thermostable annulated isomer L-a both in a metal-free state and within a spin-crossover iron(II) complex. The modulation of the electronic structure of the ligand upon L-o to L-a photoisomerization provides a unique opportunity to change the physical properties, in this case magnetic properties, of the corresponding metal complexes permanently, which is highly attractive for constructing non-volatile permanent memories and components for emerging molecular electronics and spintronics. Importantly, destructive thermal back-switching, which is commonly observed in metal complexes with photochromic ligands, is completely suppressed with our strategy.

Here, we synthesized a valence tautomeric cobalt-dioxolene complex featuring a protected anchoring group. At room temperature, the complex reveals a nearly pure low-spin-Co(iii)-catecholate state in the solid state, but a nearly pure high-spin-Co(ii)-semiquinonate state in toluene solution. Thermal switchability of the complex in solution and in the solid state is investigated.

1,10-Phenanthroline represents a well-known versatile ligand system finding many applications in chemistry, biology, and material science. The properties and thus the use of these molecules are determined by coordinating metal ions and ligand substituents. Advanced ligand systems that, for instance, feature simultaneously an integrated photochrome and a surface anchoring group require the introduction of several differing substituents and the synthesis of asymmetric derivatives. In spite of a long history of the ligand system-and to our great surprise-a general synthetic approach allowing the introduction of differing substituents at positions (3,8) and (5,6) of 1,10-phenanthroline is not known. Here, we present a general approach for the synthesis of such phenanthrolines. The approach is used to integrate a diarylethene photochrome into a functionalized phenanthroline and thus to synthesize a novel photoswitchable phenanthroline and a corresponding spin-crossover molecular photoswitch. The functionality of both the ligand and its iron(II) complex at room temperature has been demonstrated. The importance of this work for chemical grafting of molecular switches based on phenanthrolines is emphasized.

A new family of photochromic diarylethene-based ligands bearing a 2-(imidazol-2-yl)pyridine coordination unit has been developed. Four members of the new family have been synthesized. The photoactive ligands feature non-aromatic ethene bridges (cyclopentene, cyclopentenone, and cyclohexenone), as well as closely spaced photoactive and metal coordination sites aiming a strong impact of photocyclization on the electronic structure of the coordinated metal ion. The ligands with cyclopentenone and cyclohexenone bridges show good cycloreversion quantum yields of 0.20-0.32. The thermal stability of closed-ring isomers reveals half-lives of up to 20 days in solution at room temperature. The ligands were used to explore coordination chemistry with iron(II) targeting photoswitchable spin-crossover complexes. Unexpectedly, dinuclear and tetranuclear iron(II) complexes were obtained, which were thoroughly characterized by X-ray crystallography, magnetic measurements, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The formation of multinuclear complexes is facilitated by two coordination sites of the diarylethene, acting as a bridging ligand. The bridging nature of the diarylethene in the complexes prevents photocyclization.

Phase control in the self-assembly of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is often a case of trial and error; judicious control over a number of synthetic variables is required to select the desired topology and control features such as interpenetration and defectivity. Herein, we present a comprehensive investigation of self-assembly in the Fe-biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate system, demonstrating that coordination modulation can reliably tune between the kinetic product, noninterpenetrated MIL-88D(Fe), and the thermodynamic product, two-fold interpenetrated MIL-126(Fe). Density functional theory simulations reveal that correlated disorder of the terminal anions on the metal clusters results in hydrogen bonding between adjacent nets in the interpenetrated phase and this is the thermodynamic driving force for its formation. Coordination modulation slows self-assembly and therefore selects the thermodynamic product MIL-126(Fe), while offering fine control over defectivity, inducing mesoporosity, but electron microscopy shows MIL-88D(Fe) persists in many samples despite not being evident by diffraction. Interpenetration control is also demonstrated using the 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylate linker; it is energetically prohibitive for it to adopt the twisted conformation required to form the interpenetrated phase, although multiple alternative phases are identified due to additional coordination of Fe cations to its N donors. Finally, we introduce oxidation modulation-the use of metal precursors in different oxidation states from that found in the final MOF-to kinetically control self-assembly. Combining coordination and oxidation modulation allows the synthesis of pristine MIL-126(Fe) with BET surface areas close to the predicted maximum for the first time, suggesting that combining the two may be a powerful methodology for the controlled self-assembly of high-valent MOFs.

Complexes of divalent ytterbium (1) and europium (2) with a dianionic o-amidophenolate ligand were prepared by both the direct reduction of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-o-iminobenzoquinone (dpp-IQ) and the salt metathesis reaction of potassium o-amidophenolate with LnI2 (Ln = Yb, Eu). Oxidation of o-amidophenolates 1, 2 with one equivalent of dpp-IQ as well as the salt metathesis reaction of potassium o-iminosemiquinolate with LnI2 afforded ligand mixed-valent o-iminosemiquinonato-amidophenolato complexes of trivalent ytterbium (3) and europium (4). All novel complexes 1-4 were fully characterized, including the solid state structures of 1 and 2 determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The magnetic properties of paramagnetic 2-4 were examined.

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.

Phase control in the self-assembly of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) – materials wherein organic ligands connect metal ions or clusters into network solids with potential porosity – is often a case of trial and error. Judicious control over a number of synthetic variables is required to select for the desired topology and control features such as interpenetration and defectivity, which have significant impact on physical properties and application. Herein, we present a comprehensive investigation of self-assembly in the Fe-biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate system, demonstrating that coordination modulation, the addition of competing ligands into solvothermal syntheses, can reliably tune between the kinetic product, non-interpenetrated MIL-88D(Fe), and the thermodynamic product, two-fold interpenetrated MIL-126(Fe). DFT simulations reveal that correlated disorder of the terminal anions on the metal clusters in the interpentrated phase results in H-bonding between adjacent nets and is the thermodynamic driving force for its formation. Coordination modulation slows self-assembly and therefore selects the thermodynamic product MIL-126(Fe), while offering fine control over defectivity, inducing mesoporosity, but electron microscopy shows the MIL-88D(Fe) phase persists in many samples despite not being evident in diffraction experiments, suggesting its presence accounts for the lower than predicted surface areas reported for samples to date. Interpenetration control is also demonstrated by utilizing the 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylate linker; DFT simulations show that it is energetically prohibitive for it to adopt the twisted conformation required to form the interpenetrated phase, and are confirmed by experimental data, although multiple alternative phases are identified due to additional coordination of the Fe cations to the N-donors of the ligand. Finally, we introduce oxidation modulation – the concept of using metal precursors in a different oxidation state to that found in the final MOF – as a further protocol to kinetically control self-assembly. Combining coordination and oxidation modulation allows the synthesis of pristine MIL-126(Fe) with BET surface areas close to the predicted maximum capacity for the first time, suggesting that combining the two may be a powerful methodology for the controlled self-assembly of high-valent MOFs.

Bis-bidentate ligand H4LB featuring two o-amidophenol noninnocent units was used to synthesize novel binuclear complexes [(LR)MIII(•LB•)MIII(LR)](ClO4)2, M = Fe (1) and Co (2, 3), with HLR (R = CH3, Cl) being the facially coordinating tetradentate coligands. Upon the synthesis, the fully reduced amidophenolate form of the ligand (LB)4- becomes oxidized, resulting in the formation of a rare example of a biradical (•LB•)2- bridge connecting two metal ions, as supported by X-ray crystallography. The electronic structures of the complexes have been probed by Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Species 1 contains two high-spin Fe(III) ions (S = 5/2) each coupled strongly antiferromagnetically (|J| > 150 cm-1; Ĥ = -2JŜ1Ŝ2) with a semiquinone π-radical (S = 1/2) form of the bridging (•LB•)2- ligand. The effective S = 2 spins of each [Fe(III)+R●] monomeric unit are then weakly ferromagnetically coupled with J = +0.22 cm-1. Species 2 and 3 reveal very similar electronic structures: the low-spin Co(III) ion is diamagnetic, which leaves the two-spin carriers at the bridging (•LB•)2- biradical to display an isotropic EPR signal at g = 1.995 for 2 (1.993 for 3) in solution at room temperature and in the frozen state with no hyperfine structure. The weak half-field signal at g = 3.988 for 2 (3.978 for 3) was also observed at 17 K for the spin-forbidden |ΔMS| = 2 transition due to ferromagnetically coupled S = 1/2 spins (J = +47 cm-1) of the bridging biradical. The compounds show rich electrochemistry, displaying two (1) or four (2, 3) one-electron reversible processes. Normal and differential pulse voltammetry as well as constant potential coulometry, combined with EPR experiments, confirmed that the observed electron transfers are all localized at the bridging noninnocent (•LB•)2- ligand.

Spin-crossover molecular switches [FeII(H2B(pz)2)2L] (L = novel phenanthroline-based ligands featuring photochromic diarylethene units; pz = 1-pyrazolyl) were synthesized and thoroughly characterized by variable-temperature X-ray crystallography, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. The effect of substituents introduced into the phenanthroline backbone (L2) and into the photochromic diarylethene unit (L3) on photophysical properties of metal-free ligands and spin-crossover iron(II) complexes 2 and 3, respectively, were investigated in detail. Both ligands and complexes could be switched with light in solution at room temperature. The photocyclization of 2 was accompanied by a high-spin to low-spin photoconversion determined at 19%. The closed-ring isomers of L3 and 3 reveal the lifetimes in the range of minutes, whereas those of L2 and 2 are thermally stable for days in solutions at room temperature. The reversibility of the photoswitching can be improved by avoiding the photostationary states. Prospective introduction of anchoring groups to the phenanthroline backbone might allow the construction of chemisorbed self-assembled monolayers of spin-crossover species switchable with light at room temperature.