HS⇄LS transition in iron(II) two-dimensional coordination networks containing tris(tetrazol-1-ylmethyl)methane as triconnected building block.

Novel tripodal ligand 1,1',1''-tris(tetrazol-1-ylmethyl)methane (111tz) and products of its reactions with perchlorate as well as with tetrafluoroborate salts of iron(II) are presented. The isostructural complexes, [Fe(111tz)₂](ClO₄)₂ and [Fe(111tz)₂](BF₄)₂, were isolated as two-dimensional (2D) coordination networks revealing a honeycomb-like pattern with cages occupied by disordered anions. 111tz molecules act as a tridentate ligand bridging three adjacent Fe(II) ions, and the nitrogen N4 atom of six tetrazole rings (tz) is placed in octahedron vertices of FeN₆ chromophores. The complexes, crystallizing in the P3 space group, were characterized by variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that both systems undergo abrupt and complete spin transition with T(1/2)(↑) = T(1/2)(↓) = 176 K for perchlorate and T(1/2)(↑) = 193.8 and T(1/2)(↓) = 192.8 K for the tetrafluoroborate analogue. Change of spin state in both complexes is accompanied by a thermochromic effect. The HS→LS transition in [Fe(111tz)₂](ClO₄)₂ involves shortening of the Fe-N4 bond lengths from 2.171(2) Å (293 K) to 2.002(1) Å (100 K). In [Fe(111tz)₂](BF₄)₂, lowering of temperature from 293 to 100 K is accompanied by shortening of the Fe-N4 distances from 2.179(2) to 1.987(2) Å, respectively. Perchlorate in [Fe(111tz)₂](ClO₄)₂ or tetrafluoroborate anions in [Fe(111tz)₂](BF₄)₂ are engaged in the formation of intermolecular contacts within as well as with the neighboring 2D layer.