Four-Step Spin Crossover in a New Cyano-Bridged Iron-Silver Coordination Polymer.

Spin-crossover complexes with multistep transitions attract much attention due to their potential applications as multi-switches and for data storage. A four-step spin crossover is observed in the new iron(II)-based cyanometallic guest-free framework compound Fe(2-ethoxypyrazine)2 {Ag(CN)2 }2 during the transition from the low-spin to the high-spin state. A reverse process occurs in three steps. Crystallographic studies reveal an associated stepwise evolution of the crystal structures. Multiple transitions in the reported complex originate from distinct FeII sites which exist due to the packing of the ligand with a bulky substituent.

Hofmann-Like Frameworks Fe(2-methylpyrazine)n[M(CN)2]2 (M = Au, Ag): Spin-Crossover Defined by the Precious Metal.

Hofmann-like cyanometalates constitute a large class of spin-crossover iron(II) complexes with variable switching properties. However, it is not yet clearly understood how the temperature and cooperativity of a spin transition are influenced by their structure. In this paper, we report the synthesis and crystal structures of the metal-organic coordination polymers {FeII(Mepz)[AuI(CN)2]2} ([Au]) and {FeII(Mepz)2[AgI(CN)2]2} ([Ag]), where Mepz = 2-methylpyrazine, along with characterization of their spin-state behavior by variable-temperature SQUID magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The compounds are built of cyanoheterometallic layers, which are pillared by the bridging Mepz ligands in [Au] but separated in [Ag]. The complex [Au] exhibits an incomplete stepped spin transition as a function of the temperature with TSCO1 = 170 K and TSCO2 = 308 K for the two subsequent steps. In contrast, the complex [Ag] attains the high-spin state over the whole temperature range. In the crystal structure of [Ag], weak interlayer contacts (Ag-π, Me-π, and Ag-N) are found that may be responsible for an unusual axial elongation of the FeN6 polyhedra. We propose that this structural distortion contributes to the trapping of iron in its high-spin state.

Spin Crossover in Fe(II)-M(II) Cyanoheterobimetallic Frameworks (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) with 2-Substituted Pyrazines.

Discovery of spin-crossover (SCO) behavior in the family of Fe(II)-based Hofmann clathrates has led to a "new rush" in the field of bistable molecular materials. To date this class of SCO complexes is represented by several dozens of individual compounds, and areas of their potential application steadily increase. Starting from Fe(2+), square planar tetracyanometalates M(II)(CN)4(2-) (M(II) = Ni, Pd, Pt) and 2-substituted pyrazines Xpz (X = Cl, Me, I) as coligands we obtained a series of nine new Hofmann clathrate-like coordination frameworks. X-ray diffraction reveals that in these complexes Fe(II) ion has a pseudo-octahedral coordination environment supported by four µ4-tetracyanometallates forming its equatorial coordination environment. Depending on the nature of X and M, axial positions are occupied by two 2X-pyrazines (X = Cl and M(II) = Ni (1), Pd (2), Pt (3); X = Me and M(II) = Ni (4), Pd (5)) or one 2X-pyrazine and one water molecule (X = I and M(II) = Ni (7), Pd (8), Pt (9)), or, alternatively, two distinct Fe(II) positions with either two pyrazines or two water molecules (X = Me and M(II) = Pt (6)) are observed. Temperature behavior of magnetic susceptibility indicates that all compounds bearing FeN6 units (1-6) display cooperative spin transition, while Fe(II) ions in N5O or N4O2 surrounding are high spin (HS). Structural changes in the nearest Fe(II) environment upon low-spin (LS) to HS transition, which include ca. 10% Fe-N distance increase, lead to the cell expansion. Mössbauer spectroscopy is used to characterize the spin state of all HS, LS, and intermediate phases of 1-9 (see abstract figure). Effects of a pyrazine substituent and M(II) nature on the hyperfine parameters in both spin states are established.

Enantioselective Guest Effect on the Spin State of a Chiral Coordination Framework.

The diversity of spin crossover (SCO) complexes that, on the one hand, display variable temperature, abruptness and hysteresis of the spin transition, and on the other hand, are spin-sensitive to the various guest molecules, makes these materials unique for the detection of different organic and inorganic compounds. We have developed a homochiral SCO coordination polymer with a spin transition sensitive to the inclusion of the guest 2-butanol, and these solvates with (R)- and (S)-alcohols demonstrate different SCO behaviours depending on the chirality of the organic analyte. A stereoselective response to the guest inclusion is detected as a shift in the temperature of the transition both from dia- to para- and from para- to diamagnetic states in heating and cooling modes respectively. Furthermore, the Mössbauer spectroscopy directly visualizes how the metallic centres in a chiral coordination framework differently sense the interaction with guests of different chiralities.

Nature of cyanoargentate bridges defining spin crossover in new 2D Hofmann clathrate analogues.

Chemical composition is leading among the numerous factors that determine the spin transition properties of coordination compounds. Classic dicyanometallic bridges {M(CN)2}- are commonly used to build Hofmann-like spin-crossover frameworks, but some extended bridges are also synthetically available. In this paper, we describe a successful synthesis of two very similar spin-crossover frameworks that differ in the cyanometallic bridges involved, namely [Fe(etpz)2{Ag(CN)2}2] (1) and {Fe(etpz)2[Ag2(CN)3][Ag(CN)2]} (2) (where etpz = 2-ethylpyrazine). Magnetic and Mössbauer studies demonstrated the occurrence of abrupt one-step high-spin (HS) ↔ low-spin (LS) transitions for both complexes. The spin transition temperatures are T1/2 ↓ = 233 K and T1/2 ↑ = 243 K for 1 and T1/2 ↓ = 188 K and T1/2 ↑ = 191 K for 2 with thermal hysteresis loops of 10 K for 1 and 3 K for 2. The bridging mononuclear [Ag(CN)2]- units and FeII cations assemble to form infinite 2D layers in the structure of 1. Interestingly, compound 2 forms 2D layers of FeII cations bridged by both binuclear [Ag2(CN)3]- and mononuclear [Ag(CN)2]- units. The structures of 1 and 2 comprise different types of intermolecular interactions including Ag⋯Ag and Ag⋯Netpz, which induce the creation of supramolecular 3D frameworks. The synergy between metallophilic interactions and the spin transition is also confirmed by the variation of Ag⋯Ag distances during spin crossover. The characterization of such analogues allowed us to analyze in detail the effect of the cyanometallic bridge on the structure of new frameworks and on the bistability in Hofmann-like complexes.

Quantum dots assembled from an aziridinium based hybrid perovskite displaying tunable luminescence.

3D hybrid perovskites based upon small organic cations gave start to a new intensively growing class of semiconducting materials. Here we report on the elaboration of quantum dots of a recently emerged new perovskite (AzrH)PbBr3 (AzrH = aziridinium cation). By employing the antisolvent precipitation technique and stabilization with a cationic surfactant we succeeded in obtaining quantum dots that display tunable luminescence. This piece of work shows the perspective of aziridinium-based materials for the elaboration of advanced photonic nanostructures.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of bis-(3-aminopyrazole-κN1)bis-(3-aminopyrazole-κN2)bis-(nitrato-κO)copper(II).

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu(NO3)2(C3H5N3)4], the CuII atom is situated on an inversion center (Wyckoff position 2c of space group P21/n) and shows an octa-hedral [N4O2] coordination environment. The axial positions are occupied by O atoms of nitrate anions, while the equatorial positions are taken up by the N atoms of four 3-amino-pyrazole ligands. As a result of the tautomerism of the latter, two coordinate with the N1-atom of 3-amino-pyrazole while the other two with the N2-atom. The presence of pyrrole-like N-H groups and amine substituents as donor groups leads to numerous intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen-bonding inter-actions, which were qu-anti-fied by Hirshfeld surface analysis.

Structural diversity in proline-based lead bromide chiral perovskites.

Lead halide hybrid perovskites incorporating chiral organic cations attract considerable attention due to their promising application in multifarious optoelectronic devices. However, the examples of chiral hybrid perovskites are still limited, which greatly impedes their further studies in various optoelectronic fields. Herein, we report on new low-dimensional lead-halide hybrid perovskites incorporating the enantiopure chiral α-amino acid L-proline. Two hybrid perovskites (L-proH)PbBr3·H2O (Pro-PbBr3) and (L-proH)4Pb3Br10·4H2O (Pro-Pb3Br10) have been synthesized by employing different ratios of organic and inorganic precursors. According to structural analysis, the inorganic sublattice of compound Pro-PbBr3 is built of one-dimensional (1D) [PbX3]∞n- lead halide chains, whereas the inorganic sublattice of compound Pro-Pb3Br10 is built upon a rare two-dimensional (2D) [Pb3Br10]∞4n- honeycomb-type inorganic framework. Hirshfeld surface analysis revealed an important role of various hydrogen bonding interactions in providing the binding between organic and inorganic parts of these hybrid perovskites. The optical band gap values of new hybrid perovskites as estimated using the Tauc plot approach are 4.19 eV (Pro-PbBr3) and 4.13 eV (Pro-Pb3Br10). Also, new compounds display low-temperature broadband photoluminescence which can be attributed to the self-trapped excitons. These results show the potential of α-proline for constructing novel and highly demanded chiral hybrid perovskites, which will hold great promise for further optoelectronic applications.

Phase Transitions, Dielectric Response, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Aziridinium Lead Halide Perovskites.

Hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites are promising candidates for next-generation solar cells, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and lasers. The structural, dynamic, and phase-transition properties play a key role in the performance of these materials. In this work, we use a multitechnique experimental (thermal, X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, dielectric, nonlinear optical) and theoretical (machine-learning force field) approach to map the phase diagrams and obtain information on molecular dynamics and mechanism of the structural phase transitions in novel 3D AZRPbX3 perovskites (AZR = aziridinium; X = Cl, Br, I). Our work reveals that all perovskites undergo order-disorder phase transitions at low temperatures, which significantly affect the structural, dielectric, phonon, and nonlinear optical properties of these compounds. The desirable cubic phases of AZRPbX3 remain stable at lower temperatures (132, 145, and 162 K for I, Br, and Cl) compared to the methylammonium and formamidinium analogues. Similar to other 3D-connected hybrid perovskites, the dielectric response reveals a rather high dielectric permittivity, an important feature for defect tolerance. We further show that AZRPbBr3 and AZRPbI3 exhibit strong nonlinear optical absorption. The high two-photon brightness of AZRPbI3 emission stands out among lead perovskites emitting in the near-infrared region.

Aziridinium cation templating 3D lead halide hybrid perovskites.

This study describes the synthesis of the first aziridinium-based compounds, namely hybrid perovskites (AzrH)PbHal3 (where AzrH = aziridinium, Hal = Cl, Br or I). This highly reactive species was stabilized in 3D lead halide frameworks and was found to be a small enough organic cation to promote the formation of semiconducting organo-inorganic materials.

Chiral 2D organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites based on L-histidine.

Novel chiral hybrid perovskites are highly demanded for various advanced applications such as spintronics, optoelectronics, photovoltaics etc. However, the scope of these new materials is still limited. Herein, we present new 2D hybrid perovskites based upon chiral α-amino acid L-histidine. The generalized formula of these new compounds can be denoted as (L-HisH)2PbBrxI4-x (where L-His = L-histidine; x = 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.4 and 0). All perovskites are characterized by a very similar structural motif that consists of corner-sharing lead halide octahedra arranged in one-layer thin inorganic slabs interleaved by organic layers established by L-histidinium(1+) cations. L-Histidine provides a breaking of spatial parity of these perovskites that results in their non-centrosymmetric crystal structures. These compounds show a multiband absorption up to 590 nm for iodide perovskite. In addition, new compounds display pronounced single-peak photoluminescence, which finely blue shifts upon the gradual substitution of iodine by bromine. New perovskites exhibit excellent thermal stability up to 490 K and 445 K for bromide and iodide compounds, respectively. These results show the ability of L-histidine to produce novel and highly demanded chiral hybrid perovskites.

A Vanadium Dioxide-PMMA Composite For Microwave Radiation Switching.

Reconfigurable radio-frequency components are in high demand for modern communication systems as they can be involved in multiband and multistandard electronic devices. The key part of such components is an active switching element. This work offers a way to obtain an efficient microwave switch using vanadium dioxide-poly (methyl methacrylate) composite. Differential scanning calorimetry, SQUID magnetometery, and impedance spectroscopy measurements were used to characterize the phase transition in the proposed composite. Temperature induced metal-insulator transition occurs at technologically attractive 341 K. The transition leads to a change of microwave transmission trough VO2 -PMMA composite from -4.9 dB for low-temperature monoclinic form to -5.8 dB for high-temperature rutile form. This provides an ability to tune the material's transparency in the microwave range, while the shaping polymer matrix provides the proper mechanical processability of the switching element.

Crystal structure of 9-amino-acridinium chloride N,N-di-methyl-formamide monosolvate.

9-Amino-acridinium chloride N,N-di-methyl-formamide monosolvate, C13H11N2 +Cl-·C3H7NO, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c. The salt was crystallized from N,N-di-methyl-formamide. The asymmetric unit consists of two C13H11N2 +Cl- formula units. The 9-amino-acridinium (9-AA) mol-ecules are protonated with the proton on the N atom of the central ring. This N atom is connected to an N,N-di-methyl-formamide mol-ecule by a hydrogen bond. The H atoms of the amino groups create short contacts with two chloride ions. The 9-AA cations in adjacent layers are oriented in an anti-parallel manner. The mol-ecules are linked via a network of multidirectional π-π inter-actions between the 9-AA rings, and the whole lattice is additionally stabilized by electrostatic inter-actions between ions.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of di-µ-chlorido-bis-[(aceto-nitrile-κN)chlorido-(ethyl 5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxyl-ate-κ2 N 2,O)copper(II)].

The title compound, [Cu2Cl4(C5H10N2O2)2(CH3CN)2] or [Cu2(µ2-Cl)2(CH3-Pz-COOCH2CH3)2Cl2(CH3CN)2], was synthesized using a one-pot reaction of copper powder, copper(II) chloride dihydrate and ethyl 5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxyl-ate (CH3-Pz-COOCH2CH3) in aceto-nitrile under ambient conditions. This complex consists of discrete binuclear mol-ecules with a {Cu2(µ2-Cl)2} core, in which the Cu⋯Cu distance is 3.8002 (7) Å. The pyrazole-based ligands are bidentate coordinated, leading to the formation of two five-membered chelate rings. The coordination geometry of both copper atoms (ON2Cl3) can be described as distorted octa-hedral on account of the aceto-nitrile coordination. A Hirshfeld surface analysis suggests that the most important contributions to the surface contacts are from H⋯H (40%), H⋯Cl/Cl⋯H (24.3%), H⋯O/O⋯H (11.8%), H⋯C/C⋯H (9.2%) and H⋯N/N⋯H (8.3%) inter-actions.

Spin crossover in iron(II) Hofmann clathrates analogues with 1,2,3-triazole.

Hofmann-like cyanometallic complexes represent one of the biggest and well-known classes of FeII spin-crossover compounds. In this paper, we report on the first FeII Hofmann clathrate analogues with unsubstituted 1,2,3-triazole, which exhibit temperature induced spin transition. Two new coordination polymers with the general formula [FeII(1,2,3-triazole)2MII(CN)4] (M = Pt, Pd) undergo abrupt hysteretic spin crossover in the range of 190-225 K as revealed by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Two compounds are isostructural and are built of infinite cyanometallic layers which are supported by 1,2,3-triazole ligands. The thermal hysteresis loop is very stable at different scan rates from 0.5 to 10 K min-1. The compounds display strong thermochromic effect, changing their colour from pink in the low-spin state to white in the high-spin state. Our findings show that 1,2,3-triazole is suitable for elaboration of spin-crossover Hofmann clathrate analogues, and its use instead of more classical azines can advantageously expand this family of complexes.

Tunable microwave absorption of switchable complexes operating near room temperature.

Materials that are able to switch microwave radiation are strongly desired for their potential applications in electronic devices. In this paper, we show the spin-dependant interaction of spin-crossover materials with microwave radiation, namely, the ability of coordination compounds [Fe(NH2trz)3]Br2 and [Fe(NH2trz)3](NO3)2 that undergo a cooperative spin transition between low-spin and high-spin states to operate as thermoswitchable microwave absorbers. The characteristics of the microwave reflection and transmission of these spin-crossover complexes were investigated at variable temperatures. The evolution of both the transmission and reflection spectra in the 26-37 GHz frequency band within the temperature range of spin crossover showed significant differences in the interaction of microwave radiation with the high-spin and low-spin forms of the compounds. The microwave transmission coefficient shows a notable decrease upon transition to the high-spin state, while the reflection coefficient can be both increased or decreased on the characteristic frequencies during the spin transition. The different microwave absorbing properties of the low-spin and high-spin forms are found to be associated with a notable microwave permittivity change upon spin crossover. The switchable microwave reflection/transmission correlates well with the transition characteristics found in the optical and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. These results widen the spectroscopic range in which spin-crossover materials can be applied and contribute to the creation of a preliminary database of the microwave absorbing properties of spin-crossover complexes.

Crystal structure of catena-poly[[gold(I)-µ-cyanido-[di-aqua-bis-(2-phenyl-pyrazine)-iron(II)]-µ-cyanido] dicyanidogold(I)].

In the title polymeric complex, {[Fe(CN)2(C10H8N2)2(H2O)2][Au(CN)2]} n , the FeII ion, which is located on a twofold rotation axis, has a slightly distorted FeN4O2 octa-hedral geometry. It is coordinated by two phenyl-pyrazine mol-ecules, two water mol-ecules and two di-cyano-aurate anions, the Au atom also being located on a second twofold rotation axis. In the crystal, the coordinated di-cyano-aurate anions bridge the FeII ions to form polymeric chains propagating along the b-axis direction. In the crystal, the chains are linked by Owater-H⋯Ndi-cyano-aurate anions hydrogen bonds and aurophillic inter-actions [Au⋯Au = 3.5661 (3) Å], forming layers parallel to the bc plane. The layers are linked by offset π-π stacking inter-actions [inter-centroid distance = 3.643 (3) Å], forming a supra-molecular metal-organic framework.

Crystal structure of a low-spin poly[di-µ3-cyanido-di-µ2-cyanido-bis-(µ2-2-ethyl-pyrazine)-dicopper(I)iron(II)].

In the title metal-organic framework, [Fe(C6H8N2)2{Cu(CN)2}2] n , the low-spin FeII ion lies at an inversion centre and displays an elongated octa-hedral [FeN6] coordination environment. The axial positions are occupied by two symmetry-related bridging 2-ethyl-pyrazine ligands, while the equatorial positions are occupied by four N atoms of two pairs of symmetry-related cyanide groups. The CuI centre is coordinated by three cyanide carbon atoms and one N atom of a bridging 2-ethyl-pyrazine mol-ecule, which form a tetra-hedral coordination environment. Two neighbouring Cu atoms have a short Cu⋯Cu contact [2.4662 (7) Å] and their coordination tetra-hedra are connected through a common edge between two C atoms of cyanide groups. Each Cu2(CN)2 unit, formed by two neighbouring Cu atoms bridged by two carbons from a pair of µ-CN groups, is connected to six FeII centres via two bridging 2-ethyl-pyrazine mol-ecules and four cyanide groups, resulting in the formation of a polymeric three-dimensional metal-organic coordination framework.

Crystal structure of poly[bis-(µ-2-bromo-pyrazine)-tetra-µ2-cyanido-dicopper(I)iron(II)]: a bimetallic metal-organic framework.

In the title metal-organic framework, [Fe(C4H3BrN2)2{Cu(CN)2}2] n , the FeII cation is located on an inversion center and has a slightly elongated octa-hedral coordination environment [FeN6], ligated by two pyrazine N atoms of symmetry-related bridging 2-bromo-pyrazine mol-ecules in the axial positions and by four N atoms of pairs of symmetry-related cyanido groups in the equatorial positions. The CuI center has a fourfold coordination environment [CuC3N], with an almost perfect trigonal-pyramidal geometry, formed by three cyanido C atoms and an N atom of a bridging 2-bromo-pyrazine mol-ecule. Copper(I) centers related by a twofold rotation axis are bridged by two carbon atoms from a pair of µ-CN groups, resulting in Cu2(CN)2 units. Each Cu2(CN)2 unit is linked to six FeII cations via a pair of linear CN units, the pair of µ-CN groups and two bridging 2-bromo-pyrazine ligands, resulting in the formation of a metal-organic framework, which is additionally stabilized by the short Cu⋯Cu contacts of 2.4450 (7) Å.

Crystal structure of poly[tetra-µ2-cyanido-1:2κ8N:C-bis-(dimethyl sulfoxide-1κO)diargentate(I)iron(II)].

In the title polymeric complex, [Fe{OS(CH3)2}2{Ag(CN)2}2], the FeII cation is located at an inversion centre and is coordinated by four cyanide (CN-) anions and two dimethyl sulfoxide mol-ecules in a slightly compressed N4O2 octa-hedral geometry, the AgI cation is C-coordinated by two CN- anions in a nearly linear geometry. The CN- anions bridge the FeII and AgI cations to form a two-dimensional polymeric structure extending parallel to (102). In the crystal, the nearest Ag⋯Ag distance between polymeric sheets is 3.8122 (12) Å. The crystal studied was a twin with a contribution of 0.2108 (12) for the minor component.