Philippe Guionneau

Determining the charge distribution in BEDT-TTF salts

The intramolecular bond lengths of the donor BEDT-TTF (bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene, also ET) are sensitive to the charge carried by the molecule. By considering a large number of ET salts, we have developed a method for determining experimentally the charges of the ET molecules. The standard deviation in charge is only 0.1 for high quality structures.

Photo‐induced spin‐transition: the role of the iron(II) environment distortion

The [FeLn(NCS)2] iron(II) spin-crossover complexes cover a wide range of magnetic behaviour. Owing to the large number of known structural and magnetic data, this series is perfectly adapted to the investigation of the structure-magnetic properties relationship. In this paper we propose a new structural parameter, denoted Theta, which is used to correlate the features of the spin-crossover phenomena with the distortion of the iron environment. In particular, this parameter has shed light on the role of such distortion on the limiting temperature of photo-inscription, known as T(LIESST). A strong dependence of T(LIESST) on Theta is clearly demonstrated. The stronger the distortion the higher the T(LIESST) value. This structure-property dependence represents, for instance, a powerful tool to estimate the highest potential T(LIESST) value for a series of complexes. This limit in the [FeLn(NCS)2] series is estimated to be around 120 K, which probably prevents their use in any industrial application.

Nanoparticles of [Fe(NH2-trz)3]Br2.3H2O (NH2-trz=2-amino-1,2,4-triazole) prepared by the reverse micelle technique: influence of particle and coherent domain sizes on spin-crossover properties.

This paper describes the synthesis of iron(II) spin-crossover nanoparticles prepared by the reverse micelle technique by using the non-ionic surfactant Lauropal (Ifralan D0205) from the polyoxyethylenic family. By changing the surfactant/water ratio, the size of the particles of [Fe(NH2-trz)3]Br2.3H2O (with NH2trz=4-amino-1,2,4-triazole) can be controlled. On the macroscopic scale this complex exhibits cooperative thermal spin crossovers at 305 and 320 K. We find that when the size is reduced down to 50 nm, the spin transition becomes gradual and no hysteresis can be detected. For our data it seems that the critical size, for which the existence of a thermal hysteresis can be detected, is around 50 nm. Interestingly, the change of the particle size induces almost no change in the temperature of the thermal spin transition. A systematic determination of coherent domain size carried out on the nanoparticles by powder X-ray diffraction indicates that at approximately 30 nm individual particles consist of one coherent domain.

Co(II) molecular complexes as a reference for the spin crossover in Fe(II) analogues

The crystal structures of a series of cobalt(II) molecular complexes, [Co(PM-L)2(NCS)2] [PM = N-2-pyridylmethylene, L = 4-(aminobiphenyl) or 4-(phenylethynyl)aniline], are investigated and compared to the analogous iron(II) complexes, [Fe(PM-L)2(NCS)2], already known in the literature. At room temperature, the Co(II) complexes prove to be isostructural with the iron(II) complexes. An interesting point is that the iron complexes, unlike the cobalt complexes, undergo a spin crossover at low temperature. Hence, a comparison of the temperature dependence of the structural properties of the Co(II) and the Fe(II) complexes underlines some structural features of the spin crossover. Comparative deformation of the lattices and thermal expansion tensors are first discussed. Then, new parameters to estimate the distortion and the contraction at the spin crossover of the FeN6 coordination sphere are presented, thereby allowing the estimation of the reduction of the volume of the octahedron to around 3 A3 (25%). As well, comparative discussions on the intermolecular contact modifications with temperature are proposed. In the above considerations the cobalt series is therefore used as a reference to distinguish between the effects of the spin crossover and the purely thermal effects.

The Key Role of the Intermolecular π−π Interactions in the Presence of Spin Crossover in Neutral [Fe(abpt)2A2] Complexes (A = Terminal Monoanion N Ligand)

New iron(II) complexes of formulas [Fe(abpt) 2(tcm) 2] ( 1), [Fe(abpt) 2(tcnome) 2] ( 2), and [Fe(abpt) 2(tcnoet) 2] ( 3) (abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole, tcm (-) = [C(CN) 3] (-) = tricyanomethanide anion; tcnome (-) = [(NC) 2CC(OCH 3)C(CN) 2] (-) = 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-methoxypropenide anion; tcnoet (-) = [(NC) 2CC(OC 2H 5)C(CN) 2] (-) = 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-ethoxypropenide anion) have been synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, magnetic properties and by variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure determinations of 1 and 2 reveal in both cases centrosymmetric discrete iron(II) monomeric structures in which two abpt chelating ligands stand in the equatorial plane and two terminal polynitrile ligands complete the distorted octahedral environment in trans positions. For 3, the crystallographic studies revealed two polymorphs, 3- A and 3- B, exhibiting similar discrete molecular structures to those found for 1 and 2 but with different molecular arrangements. In agreement with the variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction, the magnetic susceptibility measurements, performed in the temperature range 2-400 K, showed a spin-crossover phenomenon above room temperature for complexes 1, 3- A, and 3- B with a T 1/2 of 336, 377, and 383 K, respectively, while complex 2 remains in the high-spin ground state ( S = 2) in the whole temperature range. To understand further the magnetic behaviors of 1, 3-A, and 3-B, single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements were performed at high temperatures. The crystal structures of both polymorphs could not be obtained above 400 K because the crystals decomposed. However, single-crystal X-ray data have been collected for compound 1, which reaches the full high-spin state at lower temperatures. Its crystal structure, solved at 400 K, showed a strong modification of the iron coordination sphere (average Fe-N = 2.157(3) A vs 1.986(3) A at 293 K). In agreement with the magnetic properties. Such structural behavior is a signature of the spin-state transition from low-spin (LS) to high-spin (HS). On the basis of the intermolecular pi stacking observed for the series described in this paper and for related complexes involving similar discrete structures, we have shown that complexes displaying frontal pi stacking present spin transition such as 1, 3-A, and 3-B and those involving sideways pi stacking such as complex 2 remain in the HS state.

Towards direct correlations between spin-crossover and structural features in iron(II) complexes.

The [Fe(PM-BiA)(2)(NCS)(2)] complex, where PM is N-2-pyridylmethylene and BiA is 4-aminobiphenyl, crystallizes in two polymorphs. The two phases, denoted (I) and (II), undergo a spin-crossover when the sample is cooled and present distinct spin-transition features as (I) shows a very abrupt spin transition, while (II) exhibits a gradual transition. The two forms of the complex are used to investigate the correlations that exist between the spin-transition features and structural features. This article presents the crystal structures of polymorph (II) at room temperature (high spin) and at 120 K (low spin), including a comparison with those of polymorph (I). This study reveals that the packing, in a first approximation, is similar in both forms. In order to look at the crystal structures in more detail, a new angular parameter, denoted theta(NCS), as well as a particular type of intermolecular hydrogen-bond interaction, which involves the S atoms of the NCS ligands, are investigated. Interestingly, this angle and this intermolecular interaction can be directly connected to the cooperativity of the spin transition. Such a result is extended to all the SCO iron(II) complexes belonging to the same family of the general formula [Fe(PM-L)(2)(NCS)(2)].

Structural approach of the features of the spin crossover transition in iron(II) compounds

We have determined the crystal structures, both in high and low spin state, of four Fe(PM-L) 2 (NCS) 2 complexes, where PM is N-2′-pyridylmethylene and the aromatic subunit L is 4-aminoterphenyl (TeA), 4-(phenylazo)aniline (AzA), 4-aminobiphenyl (BiA) or 4-(phenylethynyl)aniline (PEA). As previously reported, these compounds undergo a spin crossover at low temperature with different features of transition: very smooth and incomplete for Fe(PM-TeA) 2 (NCS) 2 , smooth with almost no hysteresis for Fe(PM-AzA) 2 (NCS) 2 , unusually abrupt for Fe(PM-BiA) 2 (NCS) 2 and abrupt with a very large hysteresis (37 K) for Fe(PM-PEA) 2 (NCS) 2 . In Fe(PM-BiA) 2 (NCS) 2 , Fe(PM-TeA) 2 (NCS) 2 and Fe(PM-AzA) 2 (NCS) 2 the spin conversion is not associated with a large structural phase transition and the space group is the same above and below the temperature of transition: orthorhombic Pccn for the two first and monoclinic P2 1 /c for the third. On the other hand, Fe(PM-PEA) 2 (NCS) 2 undergoes a change in the crystal symmetry from P2 1 /c (high spin) to Pccn (low spin) which corresponds to a strong re-organisation of the iron atom network. The evolution as a function of temperature of the FeN 6 core as well as of the intramolecular characteristics are almost identical in all four compounds. To a first approximation, the crystal packing is similar in all of the structures except that the P2 1 /c structures develop an asymmetrical molecular environment. Nevertheless, a close examination of the intermolecular interactions, classified as intra- and inter-sheet, show some differences. The intrasheet and the intersheet interactions are stronger in Fe(PM-BiA) 2 (NCS) 2 and Fe(PM-PEA) 2 (NCS) 2 than either in Fe(PM-TeA) 2 (NCS) 2 where no ‘second’ neighbour intrasheet contacts are created, or in Fe(PM-AzA) 2 (NCS) 2 where the intersheet interactions are weak. Thus, the abruptness of the transition is attributed to the combination of close intrasheet and intersheet contacts. The hysteresis effect in Fe(PM-PEA) 2 (NCS) 2 is connected to the phase transition which could occur due to an irregular iron atom network associated with very short carbon-carbon intermolecular contacts at high temperature, not found in Fe(PM-AzA) 2 (NCS) 2 which shows the same irregular iron atom network.

The first example of a centro-symmetrical bis(imido)-bridged dinuclear cobalt(III) complex: synthesis via oxidative dehydrogenation and phenoxazinone synthase activity

A bis(imido)-bridged dinuclear cobalt(III) complex, [Co2(amp)2(μ-imp)2Cl2]Cl2·2H2O () [amp = 2-aminomethylpyridine; imp = 2-iminomethylpyridine anion], was synthesized by the reaction of cobalt(II) chloride with 2-aminomethylpyridine in the presence of alkaline hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. X-ray crystallography reveals that both the metal centres in the molecule are related to each other through an inversion centre, and the geometry of each of the Co(III) ions is a distorted octahedral structure having a CoN5Cl coordination environment. The most important feature of the structure is the modification of half of the coordinated amines by the oxidative dehydrogenation process which involves double bridging in the complex cation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a bis(imido)-bridged dinuclear cobalt(III) complex derived from metal-assisted oxidative dehydrogenation of the coordinated primary amine ligand. Complex was found to be an excellent functional model for the phenoxazinone synthase, catalyzing the oxidative coupling of 2-aminophenol to the corresponding 2-aminophenoxazinone chromophore in dioxygen saturated methanol. The detailed kinetic investigations reveal that the phenoxazinone chromophore is produced via a potential complex-substrate intermediate.

Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Properties of a Novel mer-[(bbp)FeIII(CN)3]2– Building Block (bbp: bis(2-benzimidazolyl)pyridine dianion) and Its Related Heterobimetallic Fe(III)–Ni(II) Complexes

A new symmetrical tricyanide building block mer-[Fe(bbp)(CN)3](2-) [1; bbp = bis(2-benzimidazolyl)pyridine dianion] has been prepared and structurally and magnetically characterized. It forms a new low-spin meridionally capped {Fe(III)L(CN)3} fragment with the tridentate bbp ligand. The reaction of 1 with Ni(II) salts in the presence of various ancillary ligands affords several new cyanido-bridged complexes: a trinuclear complex {[Ni(ntb)(MeOH)]2[Fe(bbp)(CN)3][ClO4]2}·2MeOH (2), a tetranuclear compound {[Ni(tren)]2[Fe(bbp)(CN)3]2}·7MeOH (3), and a one-dimensional heterobimetallic system: {[Ni(dpd)2]2[Fe(bbp)(CN)3]2}·9MeOH·3H2O (4) [ntb = tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, and dpd = 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine]. The structural data shows that 2 is a linear complex in which a central Fe(III) ion links two adjacent Ni(II) ions via axial cyanides, while 3 is a molecular square that contains cyanido-bridged Ni(II) and Fe(III) ions at alternate corners. Complex 4 is a one-dimensional system that is composed of alternating cyanido-bridged Ni(II) and Fe(III) centers. Compounds 2-4 display extensive hydrogen bonding and moderately strong π-π stacking interactions in the solid state. Magnetic studies show that ferromagnetic exchange is operative within the Fe(III)LS(μ-CN)Ni(II) units of 2-4.

On the precision and accuracy of structural analysis of light-induced metastable states

Bragg diffraction data were collected on single crystals of the spin-crossover complex [Fe(phen)2(NCS)2] in its low-spin and light-induced metastable high-spin states. Experimental variables included the temperature (32 and 15 K), the X-ray source (sealed tube and synchrotron), and the time interval between laser light excitation of the sample (λ = 647 nm). From a comparison of the structural parameters refined, it is shown that photo-crystallographic measurements suffer significantly and systematically from bias if the probed sample contains residual ground-state species, resulting from an incomplete photo-conversion or a significant metastable- to ground-state relaxation. It follows that a 4% population of species in a different spin state affects the Fe—N bond lengths by more than three standard deviations, and the FeN6 polyhedron volume by as much as seven standard deviations, while the mean atomic position misfit exceeds 0.005 A.