Both spacer length and parity influence the thermal and light-induced properties of iron(II) α,ω-bis(tetrazole-1-yl)alkane coordination polymers

Abstract

A new series of [μ-tris-{1,n-bis(tetrazol-1-yl)alkane-N4,N4′}iron(II)] bis(perchlorate) spin-crossover coordination polymers ([Fe(nditz)3](ClO 4)2]; n = 4-9) has been synthesised and characterised. The ditetrazole bridging ligands provide octahedral symmetry at the iron(II) centres while allowing the distance between iron(II) centres to be varied. These polymers have therefore been investigated to determine the effects of spacer length on their thermal and light-induced spin-transition behaviour. An increase in the number of carbon atoms in the spacer (n) raises the thermal spin-crossover temperature, while decreasing the stability of the light-induced metastable state gen erated through the..