Impact of counter anions on spin-state switching of manganese(III) complexes containing an azobenzene ligand.

Four mononuclear manganese(III) complexes coordinated with photo-active hexadentate azobenzene ligands, [Mn(5azo-sal-323)](X) (X = Cl, 1; X = BF, 2; X = ClO, 3; X = PF, 4), were prepared. The impact of various counter anions on the stabilization and switching of the spin state of the manganese(III) center was explored through detailed magneto-structural investigation using variable temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetic, spectroscopic, and spectroelectrochemical studies, along with theoretical calculations. All four complexes consisted of an isostructural monocationic distorted octahedral MnNO coordination environment offered by the hexadentate ligand and Cl, BF, ClO, and PF as counter anions respectively.