A thermal spin transition in [Co(bpy)3][LiCr(ox)3] (ox = C2O4(2-); bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine).
In the three-dimensional oxalate network structures [M(II)(bpy)3][M(I)-M(III)(ox)3] (ox= C2O4(2-); bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) the negatively charged oxalate backbone provides perfect cavities for tris-bipyridyl complex cations. The size of the cavity can be adjusted by variation of the metal ions of the oxalate backbone. In [Co(bpy)3][NaCr(ox)3], the [Co(bpy)3]2 + complex is in its usual 4T1(t2g5e(g)2) high-spin ground state. Substituting Na+ by Li+ reduces the size of the cavity. The resulting chemical pressure destabilises the high-spin state of [Co(bpy)3]2+ to such an extent that the 2E(t2g6e(g)1) low-spin state becomes the actual ground state. As a result. [Co(bpy)3][LiCr(ox)3] becomes a spin-crossover system, as shown by temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements and single-crystal optical spectroscopy, as well as by an X-ray structure determination at 290 and 10 K.
Sieber
R
R
Departement für Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bern, Switzerland.
Decurtins
S
S
Stoeckli-Evans
H
H
Wilson
C
C
Yufit
D
D
Howard
J A
JA
Capelli
S C
SC
Hauser
A
A