Fr Francium

Conflicting results have been reported with respect to the photoinduced switching of the magnetic properties of [Fe^III(salten)]⁺ complexes [salten = 4-azaheptamethylene-1,7-bis(salicylideneiminate)] coordinated by photoisomerizable ligands. In order to address this problem, two Fe^III complexes [Fe(salten)(3-azpy)]BPh₄ (1) and [Fe(salten)(4-azpy)]BPh₄ (2) have been synthesized and characterized by various physicochemical methods (azpy = phenylazopyridine). Both 1 and 2 exhibit a low spin (S = 1/2) to high spin (HS, S = 5/2) transition in the solid state. In solution at room temperature both complexes are predominantly HS. Upon exposure to 310 (trans → cis) and 440 nm radiation (cis → trans) the free and coordinated 3- and 4-azpy ligands undergo a reversible cis–trans isomerization. For 2 a corresponding reduction of the HS fraction 2 % is observed, whereas in 1 no effect is observed. Extensive DFT calculations, which employ different functionals and basis sets, explain this experimental result. The consequences of these findings with respect to the design of spin-switchable iron(III) complexes with photoactive ligands are discussed.

[Fe(salten)(3-azpy)]BPh₄ (1) and [Fe(salten)(4-azpy)]BPh₄ (2) have been synthesized and characterized [salten = 4-azaheptamethylene-1,7-bis(salicylideneiminate), azpy = phenylazopyridine]. Both exhibit a low to high spin transition in the solid state and are predominantly high spin in solution. cis–trans isomerization of coordinated azpy leaves their spin equilibria almost unaffected.