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A proton-electron coupling system, exhibiting unique bistability or multistability of the protonated state, is an attractive target for developing new switchable materials based on proton dynamics. Herein, we present an iron(II) hydrazone crystalline compound, which displays the stepwise transition and bistability of proton transfer at the crystal level. These phenomena are realized through the coupling with spin transition. Although the multi-step transition with hysteresis has been observed in various systems, the corresponding behavior of proton transfer has not been reported in crystalline systems; thus, the described iron(II) complex is the first example. Furthermore, because proton transfer occurs only in one of the two ligands and π electrons redistribute in it, the dipole moment of the iron(II) complexes changes with the proton transfer, wherein the total dipole moment in the crystal was canceled out owing to the antiferroelectric-like arrangement.

The study of transition metal clusters exhibiting fast electron hopping or delocalization remains challenging, because intermetallic communications mediated through bridging ligands are normally weak. Herein, we report the synthesis of a nanosized complex, [Fe(Tp)(CN)3]8[Fe(H2O)(DMSO)]6 (abbreviated as [Fe14], Tp−, hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide), which has a fluctuating valence due to two mobile d-electrons in its atomic layer shell. The rate of electron transfer of [Fe14] complex demonstrates the Arrhenius-type temperature dependence in the nanosized spheric surface, wherein high-spin centers are ferromagnetically coupled, producing an S = 14 ground state. The electron-hopping rate at room temperature is faster than the time scale of Mössbauer measurements (, Fast intermetallic electron transfer is expected in principle in nanozised transition metal complexes, but has been prevented by the bridging ligands. Here the authors synthesize a mixed-valence iron metal-ligand nanocluster with cyanide bridges, showing extended delocalized electronic structure

An important technique to realize novel electron- and/or proton-based functionalities is to use a proton-electron coupling mechanism. When either a proton or electron is excited, the other one is modulated, producing synergistic functions. However, although compounds with proton-coupled electron transfer have been synthesized, crystalline molecular compounds that exhibit proton-transfer-coupled spin-transition (PCST) behavior have not been reported. Here, we report the first example of a PCST Fe(II) complex, wherein the proton lies on the N of hydrazone and pyridine moieties in the ligand at high-spin and low-spin Fe(II), respectively. When the Fe(II) complex is irradiated with light, intramolecular proton transfer occurs from pyridine to hydrazone in conjunction with the photoinduced spin transition via the PCST mechanism. Because the light-induced excited high-spin state is trapped at low temperatures in the Fe(II) complex-a phenomenon known as the light-induced excited-spin-state trapping effect-the light-induced proton-transfer state, wherein the proton lies on the N of hydrazone, is also trapped as a metastable state. The proton transfer was accomplished within 50 ps at 190 K. The bistable nature of the proton position, where the position can be switched by light irradiation, is useful for modulating proton-based functionalities in molecular devices.

Water reorientation is essential in a wide range of chemical and biological processes. However, the effects of such reorientation through rotation around the metal–oxygen bond on the chemical and physical properties of the resulting complex are usually ignored. Most studies focus on the donor property of water as a recognized σ donor-type ligand rather than a participant in the π interaction. Although a theoretical approach to study water-rotation effects on the functionality of a complex has recently been conducted, it has not been experimentally demonstrated. In this study, we determine that the magnetic anisotropy of a Co(II) complex can be effectively controlled by the slight rotation of coordinating water ligands, which is achieved by a two-step structural phase transition. When the water molecule is rotated by 21.2 ± 0.2° around the Co–O bond, the directional magnetic susceptibility of the single crystal changes by approximately 30% along the a-axis due to the rotation of the magnetic anisotropy axis through the modification of the π interaction between cobalt(II) and the water ligand. The theoretical calculations further support the hypothesis that the reorientation of water molecules is a key factor contributing to the magnetic anisotropy transition of this complex. Little is known about how the orientation of coordinated water molecules affects the magnetic properties of single molecule magnets. Here the authors combine experimental data and theoretical calculations to study how the rotation of water molecules alters the magnetic anisotropy of a pyrazine-based cobalt(II) complex.

Well-defined, platelet-shaped LiNbO3 single crystals were prepared by a flux-mediated topochemical reaction from platelet K4Nb6O17 crystals with a mixture of LiNO3 solute and alkali metal nitrate (LiNO3, NaNO3, and KNO3) fluxes at 600 °C. Crystallographic structural characterizations revealed that the LiNbO3 crystals inherited the K4Nb6O17 crystal shape with well-developed {012} faces. The topochemical reaction in molten KNO3 promoted smooth surface formation, in contrast to LiNO3 and NaNO3, which formed rough surfaces. We further found that the dissolution and deposition reaction occurs repeatedly in the vicinity of the LiNbO3 crystal and KNO3 flux interface. It is considered that the KNO3 flux hybridized with the LiNO3 solute provides a moderate solubility and dissolution rate suitable for crystal growth. We also achieved reed-shaped LiNbO3 crystal growth by applying the same technique to the KNb3O8 crystal template.

Two isostructural NiIIcompounds, bis{N-[1-(pyridin-2-yl-κN)ethylidene]pyridine-4-carbohydrazonato-κ2N′,O}nickel(II)–2,5-dichloroterephthalic acid (1/1), [Ni(C13H11N4O)2](C8H4Cl2O4), and bis{N-[1-(pyridin-2-yl-κN)ethylidene]pyridine-4-carbohydrazonato-κ2N′,O}nickel(II)–2,5-dibromoterephthalic acid (1/1), [Ni(C13H11N4O)2](C8H4Br2O4), were synthesized and their crystal structures determined. The pair ofN,N′,O-tridentateN-[1-(pyridin-2-yl-κN)ethyl]pyridine-4-carbohydrazonateLligands result in acis-NiO2N4octahedral coordination sphere for the metal ions. The asymmetric units consist of two half-molecules of the dicarboxylic acids, which are completed by crystallographic inversion symmetry. In the respective crystals, the 2,5-dichloroterephthalic acid (H2Cl2TPA,1-Cl) molecules form zigzag hydrogen-bonded chains with the [Ni(L)2] molecules, with the hydrogen-bond distances in1-Brslightly longer than those in1-Cl. The packing is consolidated by aromatic π–π stacking between the dicarboxylic acid molecules and terminal pyridine rings in [Ni(L)2] and short halogen–halogen interactions are also observed. The qualitative prediction of the H-atom position from the C—N—C angles of the terminal pyridine rings inLand the C—O distances in the carboxyl groups show that1-Cland1-Brare co-crystals rather than salts.

Four Fe(III) spin-crossover (SCO) compounds, [Fe(HL1)2](HCl4TPA) (1-Cl), [Fe(HL1)2](HBr4TPA) (1-Br), [Fe(HL2)2](HCl4TPA) (2-Cl), and [Fe(HL2)2](HBr4TPA) (2-Br) (HL1 = 4-chloro-2-nitro-6-(1-(2-(pyridine-2-yl)hydrazono)ethyl)phenolate; HL2 = 4-bromo-2-nitro-6-(1-(2-(pyridine-2-yl)hydrazono)ethyl)phenolate; HCl4TPA = 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-carboxybenzoate; and HBr4TPA = 2,3,5,6-tetrabromo-4-carboxybenzoate), were synthesized to investigate the halogen substituent change effect in salicylaldehyde 2-pyridyl hydrazone-type ligands and dicarboxylic acids in SCO complexes to the spin-transition temperature. Crystal structure analyses showed that these compounds were isostructural. In addition, a one-dimensional hydrogen–bonded column was formed by the dicarboxylic acid anion and weak hydrogen bonds between the Fe(III) complexes. From Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic property measurements, these compounds were confirmed to exhibit gradual SCO. The spin-transition temperature can be shifted by changing the halogen substituent in the salicylaldehyde 2-pyridyl hydrazone-type ligands and dicarboxylic acids without changing the molecular arrangement in the crystal packing.

We synthesized new Fe(II) compounds consisting of [Fe(L)2] (HL: 2-Acetylpyridine isonicotinoylhydrazone) and dicarboxylic acids. Single crystal analysis shows that short hydrogen bonds are formed between [Fe(L)2] and dicarboxylic acids. The hydrogen bonding interactions between metal complexes and dicarboxylic acids are complemented by π-π interactions, forming two-dimensional network structures. Magnetic properties show that the Fe(II) compounds exhibit gradual spin crossover behavior around room temperature and a T1/2 value is dependent on the halogen substituent on the dicarboxylic acids.