Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: June 9, 2023
Modeling Spin Interactions in a Triangular Cobalt(II) Complex with Triaminoguanidine Ligand Framework: Synthesis,
Daniel Plaul1, Michael Böhme1, Serghei Ostrovsky2
1Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena , Humboldtstr. 8, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Abstract:
The new tritopic triaminoguanidine-based ligand 1,2,3-tris[(pyridine-2-ylmethylidene)amino]guanidine (H2pytag) was synthesized. The reaction of a mixture of cobalt(II) chloride and cobalt(II) perchlorate with the ligand H2pytag in pyridine solution leads to the formation of the trinuclear cobalt(II) complex [Co3(pytag)(py)6Cl3]ClO4. Three octahedrally coordinated high-spin cobalt(II) ions are linked through the bridging triaminoguanidine backbone of the ligand leading to an almost equilateral triangular arrangement. The magnetic properties of the complex were investigated by magnetic measurements, variable-temperature, variable-field magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, and density functional theory as well as ab initio calculations. A rather strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the cobalt(II) centers of ca. -12 cm-1 is determined together with a strong local anisotropy. The single-ion anisotropy of all three cobalt(II) centers is found to be easy-plane, which coincides with the tritopic ligand plane. MCD measurements and theoretical investigations demonstrate the presence of rhombic distortion of the local Co surrounding.
Related Concept Videos
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
Valence Bond Theory
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Spin–Spin Coupling: Three-Bond Coupling (Vicinal Coupling)
The extent of coupling depends on the C‑C bond length, the two H‑C‑C angles, any electron-withdrawing substituents, and the dihedral angle between the involved orbitals. The...
Spin–Spin Coupling: One-Bond Coupling

