Light-Induced Bidirectional Metal-to-Metal Charge Transfer in a Linear Fe2 Co Complex.

It is a challenge to reversibly switch both magnetism and polarity using light irradiation. Herein we report a linear Fe2 Co complex, whereby interconversion between FeIIILS (µ-CN)CoIIHS (µ-NC)FeIIILS (LS=low-spin, HS=high-spin) and FeIIILS (µ-CN)CoIIILS (µ-NC)FeIILS linkages could be achieved upon heating and cooling, or alternating laser irradiation at 808 and 532 nm. The electron spin arrangement and charge distribution were simultaneously tuned accompanying bidirectional metal-to-metal charge transfer, providing switchable polarity and magnetism in the complex.

Magnetic fluorescent bifunctional spin-crossover complexes.

The rational design of magnetic and fluorescent bifunctional materials is attracting increasing interest. In this study, two mononuclear Fe(ii) complexes, namely [Fe(L)2(NCS)2] (1) and [Fe(L)2(NCSe)2] (2) are synthesised by combining a spin-crossover unit and a fluorescent ligand (naphth-1-yl)-N-(3,5-di(pyridin-2-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)methanimine (L) to achieve bifunctionality. Single-crystal X-ray studies and magnetic measurements confirm the presence of spin crossover behaviours; these measurements agree with the results of the temperature depended Raman spectra and infrared spectra. Thermally and light-induced spin crossover is clearly observed for both complexes. The nature of the co-ligand (NCS-vs. NCSe-) shifts the transition temperature by approximately 60 K. The infrared spectra after irradiation reveal that the electronic states are ascribable to the photomagnetic effect at 10 K. Furthermore, temperature-dependent fluorescence emission spectra exhibit the coexistence of spin crossover and fluorescence for 1 and 2.