ABSTRACT
We report a new cyanide-bridged Csâ{Fe4Co4} box, a soluble model of photomagnetic Prussian blue analogues (PBAs). The Cs+ ion has a high affinity for the box and can replace the K+ ion in the preformed K-cube. This exchange is kinetically impeded at room temperature but is accelerated by heating and using the 18-crown-6 ether. The inserted Cs+ ion confers a high robustness to the cube, which withstands boiling, as shown by variable-temperature NMR studies. The stability of this model complex in solution allows the probing of the electronic interaction between the alkali ion and the cyanide cage by using various techniques. These interactions are known to play a role in the photomagnetic behaviour of PBAs. Firstly, the 133Cs NMR spectroscopy proves that there is an electronic communication between the encapsulated alkali ion and the cyanide cage. The measured up-field signal, observed at ca. -200 ppm at 300 K, reveals that a certain amount of spin density is transferred through the bonds from the paramagnetic Co(ii) ion to the encapsulated cation. Secondly, cyclovoltammetric studies show that the nature of the inserted ions affects the redox properties of the cage and influences the electronic communication between the metal ions. However, the differences in the electrochemical properties of the K-cube and the Cs-cube remain moderate. As the switching properties are influenced by the redox potential of the Fe and Co centers, similar photomagnetic behaviour is observed, with both of them being highly photomagnetic. This result contrasts strikingly with previous studies on the 3D polymeric PBAs, where the PBAs with a high amount of Cs+ show poor photomagnetic behaviour. In that case, cooperative behaviour likely influences the switching properties. Finally, EPR spectroscopy shows that the K-cube is more anisotropic than the Cs-cube. This difference is reflected in the changes occurring in the slow magnetic relaxation (single molecule magnet behaviour) observed in the two cubes.
ABSTRACT
We demonstrate that 113Cd NMR is a potent technique to monitor the local electronic and structural states of the Prussian blue electrode during Li+ intercalation, providing an atomic-scale insight into the reaction mechanism.
ABSTRACT
A nanoscopic {Fe60} coordination cage (approximately 3 nm) was prepared by the self assembly of a partially blocked tricyanidoferrate(iii) complex and tris(alkoxo)-based iron(iii) coordination motifs. This cage is a rare example of a mixed cyanido/alkoxo-bridged high nuclearity complex and it exemplifies the great potential of this new synthetic route to generate uncommon molecular architectures using cyanometallates as metalloligands versus alkoxo-based polynuclear entities.
ABSTRACT
Straightforward access to a new cyanide-bridged {Fe4Co4} "molecular box" containing a potassium ion, namely Kâ{[FeII(Tp)(CN)3]4[CoIII(pzTp)]3[CoII(pzTp)]} (1) (with Tp and pzTp = tris- and tetrakis(pyrazolyl)borate, respectively), is provided, alongside its full characterisation. A detailed analysis of the molecular structure (X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy) and electronic properties (EPR spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry) reveals that 1 shows slow magnetic relaxation and a remarkable photomagnetic effect at low temperature which is reminiscent of some FeCo Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs), and is ascribed to a photo-induced electron transfer. However, in contrast with these inorganic polymers, the overall neutral compound 1 is soluble and remarkably stable in organic solvents such as CH2Cl2. Moreover, 1 shows interesting redox versatility, with electrochemical experiments revealing the possible access to six stable redox states.
ABSTRACT
The mononuclear PPh4[Fe(phen)(CN)4]*2H2O (1) complex and the cyanide-bridged bimetallic [[Fe(phen)(CN)4]2M(H2O)2]*4H2O compounds [M = Mn(II) (2) and Zn(II) (3); phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; PPh4 = tetraphenylphosphonium cation] have been synthesized and structurally and magnetically characterized. Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 9.364(4) A, b = 27.472(5) A, c = 14.301(3) A, beta = 97.68(2) degrees, and Z = 4. Complexes 2 and 3 are isostructural and they crystallize in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 7.5292(4) A, b = 15.6000(10) A, c = 15.4081(9) A, beta = 93.552(2) degrees, and Z = 2 for 2 and a = 7.440(1) A, b = 15.569(3) A, c = 15.344(6) A, beta = 93.63(2) degrees, and Z = 2 for 3. The structure of complex 1 is made up of mononuclear [Fe(phen)(CN)4]- anions, tetraphenyphosphonium cations, and water molecules of crystallization. The iron(III) is hexacoordinate with two nitrogen atoms of a chelating phen (2.018(6) and 2.021(6) A for Fe-N) and four carbon atoms of four terminal cyanide groups (Fe-C bond lengths varying in the range 1.906(8)-1.95(1) A) building a distorted octahedron around the metal atom. The structure of complexes 2 and 3 consists of neutral double zigzag chains of formula [[Fe(phen)(CN)4]2M(H2O)2] and crystallization water molecules. The [Fe(phen)(CN)4]- entity of 1 is present in 2 and 3 acting as a bridging ligand toward M(H2O)2 units [M = Mn(II) (2) and Zn(II) (3)] through two cyanide groups in cis positions, the other two cyanide remaining terminal. Two water molecules in trans positions and four cyanide-nitrogen atoms from four [Fe(phen)(CN)4]- units build a distorted octahedral surrounding Mn(II) (2) and Zn(II) (3). The M-O bond lengths are 2.185(3) (2) and 2.105(3) A (3), whereas the M-N bond distances vary in the ranges 2.210(3)-2.258(3) A (2) and 2.112(3)-2.186(3) A (3). The structure of the [Fe(phen)(CN)4]- complex ligand in 2 and 3 is as in 1. The shorter intrachain Fe-M distances through bridging cyano are 5.245(5) and 5.208(5) A in 2 and 5.187(1) and 5.132(1) A in 3. The magnetic properties of 1-3 have been investigated in the temperature range 2.0-300 K. Complex 1 is a low-spin iron(III) complex with an appreciable orbital contribution. The magnetic properties of 3 correspond to the sum of two magnetically isolated spin triplets, the magnetic coupling between the low-spin iron(III) centers through the -CN-Zn-NC- bridging skeleton (iron-iron separation larger than 10.2 A) being negligible. More interestingly, 2 exhibits one-dimensional ferrimagnetic behavior due to the noncompensation of the local interacting spins (S(Mn) = 5/2 and S(Fe) = 1/2) which interact antiferromagnetically through bridging cyano groups. A comparison between the magnetic properties of the isostructural compounds 2 and 3 allow us to check the antiferromagnetic coupling in 2.