Synthesis, structure, and spin equilibrium properties of [FeIIIX2L]BPh4⋅solvents (X = 1-methylimidazole and imidazole; L = N, N′-bis(3-ethoxycarbonylsalicylidene)ethylenediamine)

•Two complexes [FeIIIX2L]BPh4⋅solvents (X = 1-Meim, Him) were synthesized.•L denotes N, N′-bis(3-ethoxycarbonylsalicylidene)ethylenediamine).•The 1-Meim compound has no intermolecular interaction in the solid state.•The 1-Meim compound showed no spin crossover in the solid state.•The Him compound with intermolecular hydrogen bonds showed spin crossover in the solid and solution states.

Two iron(III) complexes [FeIIIX2L]BPh4⋅solvents (X = 1-Meim (1), Him (2)) were synthesized and the crystal structures were determined, where H2L = N, N’-bis(3-ethoxycarbonylsalicylidene)ethylenediamine, 1-Meim = 1-methylimidazole, Him = imidazole, BPh4− = tetraphenylborate. FeIII ion has an octahedral coordination environment by N2O2 donor atoms of equatorial L2− and N2 donor atoms of axial imidazoles. Complex 1 is described as isolated molecule, while complex 2 has a hydrogen-bonded cyclic dimer structure constructed by hydrogen-bond between imidazole group and ethoxycarbonyl oxygen via ethanol. Complex 1 is in a high-spin (S = 5/2) state over the whole temperature region 5–300 K, while complex 2 showed a gradual complete spin equilibrium between high and low-spin states at T1/2 = 192 K.

Graphical abstractTwo iron(III) complexes [FeIIIX2L]BPh4 solvents (X = 1-Meim (1), Him (2)) were synthesized and the crystal structures were determined, where H2L = N, N′-bis(3-ethoxycarbonylsalicylidene)ethylenediamine, 1-Meim = 1-methylimidazole, Him = imidazole, BPh4− = tetraphenylborate. 1 is described as isolated molecule, while 2 has a cyclic dimer structure constructed by hydrogen-bonds between imidazole group and ethoxycarbonyl oxygen via ethanol. 1 is in a high-spin (S = 5/2) state over the whole temperature region, while 2 shows a gradual complete spin equilibrium between high and low-spin states at T1/2 = 192 K.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide