A switchable molecular rotator: Neutron spectroscopy study on a polymeric spin-crossover compound

Abstract

A quasielastic neutron scattering and solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy study of the polymeric spin-crossover compound {Fe(pyrazine)[Pt(CN) 4]} shows that the switching of the rotation of a molecular fragment-the pyrazine ligand-occurs in association with the change of spin state. The rotation switching was examined on a wide time scale (10 -13-10 -3 s) by both techniques, which clearly demonstrated the combination between molecular rotation and spin-crossover transition under external stimuli (temperature and chemical). The pyrazine rings are seen to perform a 4-fold jump motion about the coordinating nitrogen axis in the high-spin state. In the low-spin state, however, the motion is suppressed, while when the system incorporates benzene guest molecules, the movements of the system are even more restricted. © 2012 American Chemical Society.