Spin-crossover behavior in cyanide-bridged iron(II)-silver(I) bimetallic 2D Hofmann-like metal-organic frameworks

Two new series of compounds formulated {Fe(3-Xpyridine)2[Ag(CN)2]2} (X = F (1), Cl (2), Br (3), I (4)) and {Fe(3-Xpyridine)2[Ag(CN)2][Ag(3-Xpyridine)(CN)2]}.3-Xpy (X = Br (5), I (6)) have been synthesized and characterized. The six compounds are made up of stacking of slightly corrugated two-dimensional coordination polymers defined by sharing {Fe4[Ag(CN)2]4}n motifs. The stacking is different for the two families. In compounds 1-4 the layers are organized by pairs displaying argentophilic interactions; the Ag...Ag distance was found to be in the interval 3.0-3.3 A, while the Ag...Ag separation between two consecutive layers belonging to different pairs was found to be around 6 A. Compounds 5 and 6 are isostructural with a crystal packing defined by an almost homogeneous distribution of layers separated by around 8.3 A (referred to the Fe...Fe interlayer distance). Between the layers an uncoordinated 3-Xpyridine molecule is included. Another 3-Xpyridine molecule, which remains in the plane defined by the {Fe4[Ag(CN)2]4}n windows, coordinates one silver atom. Both series display quite different properties; at 300 K, 1-4 are pale-yellow and display similar distorted [FeN6] octahedron cores characteristic of the iron(II) ion in the high-spin state. 1 and 2 undergo a two-step (T(1)1/2 = 96 K and T(2)1/2 = 162 K) and a 50% spin transition (T1/2 = 106 K), respectively. Compounds 3 and 4 are high-spin compounds at ambient pressure. 5 and 6 are deep red in color at 300 K and undergo spin-crossover behavior at significantly higher temperatures T1/2 = 306 and 261 K, respectively.