Reactions of Fe(II) with the tripodal chelating ligand 1,1,1-tris(2-pyridyl)ethoxymethane (py3C-OEt) and (NCE)− co-ligands (E = S, Se, BH3) give a series of mononuclear complexes formulated as [Fe(py3C-OEt)2][Fe(py3C-OEt)(NCE)3]2·2CH3CN, with E = S (1) and BH3 (2). These compounds are the first Fe(II) spin cross-over (SCO) complexes based on the tripodal ligand tris(2-pyridyl)ethoxymethane and on the versatile co-ligands (NCS)− and (NCBH3)−. The crystal structure reveals discrete monomeric isomorph structures formed by a cationic [Fe(py3C-OEt)2]2+ complex and by two equivalent anionic [Fe(py3C-OEt)(NCE)3]− complexes. In the cations the Fe(II) is facially coordinated by two py3C-OEt tripodal ligands whereas in the anion the three nitrogen atoms of the tripodal ligand are facially coordinated and the N-donor atoms of the three (NCE)− co-ligands occupy the remaining three positions to complete the distorted octahedral environment of the Fe(II) centre. The magnetic studies show the presence of gradual SCO for both complexes: A one-step transition around 205 K for 1 and a two-step transition for compound 2, centered around 245 K and 380 K.

The control of metal-ligand exchange in a confined environment is of primary importance for understanding thermodynamics and kinetics of the electron transfer process governing the reactivity of enzymes. This study reveals an unprecedented change of the Cu(II)/Cu(I) binding and redox properties through a subtle control of the access to the labile site by a protein channel mimic. The cavity effect was estimated from cyclic voltammetry investigations by comparison of two complexes displaying the same coordination sphere (tmpa) and differing by the presence or absence of a calix[6]arene cone surrounding the metal labile site L. Effects on thermodynamics are illustrated by important shifts of E(1/2) toward higher values for the calix complexes. This is ascribable to the protection of the labile site of the open-shell system from the polar medium. Such a cavity control also generates specific stabilizations. This is exemplified by an impressively exalted affinity of the calixarene system for MeCN, and by the detection of a kinetic intermediate, a noncoordinated DMF guest molecule floating inside the cone. Kinetically, a unique dissymmetry between the Cu(I) and Cu(II) ligand exchange capacity is highlighted. At the CV time scale, the guest interconversion is only feasible after reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I). Such a redox-switch mechanism results from the blocking of the associative process at the Cu(II) state, imposed by the calixarene funnel. All of this suggests that the embedment of a reactive redox metal ion in a funnel-like cavity can play a crucial role in catalysis, particularly for metallo-enzymes associating electron transfer and ligand exchange.

A new iron(II) chain of formula [Fe(abpt)(2)(tcpd)] [1; (tcpd)(2-) = [C(10)N(6)](2-) = (C[C(CN)(2)](3))(2-) = 2-dicyanomethylene-1,1,3,3-tetracyanopropanediide anion, abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole] has been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, detailed variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetic and photomagnetic measurements. The crystal structure determination of 1 reveals a one-dimensional structural architecture in which the (tcpd)(2-) cyanocarbanion acts as a μ(2)-bridging ligand and the two abpt molecules act as chelating ligands. Detailed X-ray diffraction studies as a function of the temperature (293-10 K) showed a strong modification of the iron coordination sphere, whose characteristics are in agreement with the presence of a spin-crossover transition from high spin (HS) to low spin (LS) in 1. The average Fe-N distances at room temperature, at 10 K following a flash cooling, and at 10 K after subsequent HS-to-LS relaxation are in the range expected for 100%, 50%, and 25% fractions of HS Fe(II), respectively. These observations are consistent with the presence of ca. 25% residual HS species at low temperatures, as derived from the magnetic data. The signature of a photoinduced metastable HS state in 1 has been detected by performing coupled photomagnetic and photocrystallographic analyses. The limiting T(LIESST) value associated with the light-induced excited-spin-state trapping effect was derived as 35 K, in good agreement with the thermal dependence of the unit cell volume upon irradiation. Kinetic studies governing the photoinduced HS/LS process have been recorded at different temperatures; a reverse-LIESST effect has been evidenced at 10 K as a reduction of the residual HS fraction by irradiating the sample at 830 nm.

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Two new mononuclear Fe(II) polymorphs, [(C2H5)4N]2[Fe(py3C-OEt)(NCS)3]2 (1) and [(C2H5)4N][Fe(py3C-OEt)(NCS)3] (2) (py3C-OEt = tris(pyridin-2yl)ethoxymethane) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, by magnetic and photomagnetic measurements, and by detailed variable temperature infrared spectroscopy. The molecular structure, in both complexes, is composed by the same anionic [Fe(py3C-OEt)(NCS)3] -complex (two units for 1, and one unit for 2) generated by a coordination, to the Fe(II) metal centre, of one tridentate donor molecules such tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives for the design of multifunctional systems, such as fluorescent or conducting switchable materials. 6,60 ■ ASSOCIATED CONTENT Supporting informationThe Supporting Information is available free of charge on the ACS Publications website at DOI: XXXXX/acs.inorg-chem.XXXXXXX X-ray crystallographic data in CIF format: CCDC numbers 2025933-2025936 (CIF). This material is available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org. Syntheses details and figures S1-S19 (pdf)

We report the self-induced "electroclick" immobilization of the [Cu(II)(6-ethynyl-TMPA)(H(2)O)](2+) complex, by its simple electro-reduction, onto a mixed azidoundodecane-/decane-thiol modified gold electrode. The redox response of the grafted [Cu(II/I)(TMPA)] at the modified electrode is fully reversible indicating no Cu coordination change and a fast electron transfer.

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A novel and general strategy for the immobilisation of functional objects onto electrodes is described. The concept is based on the addition of two pendant ethynyl groups onto a bis(pyridyl)amine derivative, which acts as a molecular platform. This platform is pre-functionalised with an N(3)-tagged object of interest by Huisgen cycloaddition to one of the ethynyl groups in biphasic conditions. Hence, when complexed by Cu(II) , this molecular-object holder can be immobilised, by a "self-induced electroclick", through the second ethynyl group onto N(3)-alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers on a gold electrode. Two different functional groups, a redox innocent ((CH(2))(3)-Ph) and an electrochemical probe (ferrocene), were immobilised by following this strategy. The in situ electrochemical grafting showed, for both systems, that the kinetics of immobilisation is fast. The voltammetric characterisation of the surface-tagged functionalised copper complexes indicated that a good surface coverage was achieved and that a moderately fast electron-transfer reaction occurs. Remarkably, in the case of the redox-active ferrocenyl-immobilised system, the electrochemical response highlighted the involvement of the copper ion of the platform in the kinetics of the electron transfer to the ferrocene moiety. This platform is a promising candidate for applications in surface addressing in areas as diverse as biology and materials.