Development of an Fe^II Complex Exhibiting Intermolecular Proton Shifting Coupled Spin Transition

In this study, we investigated reversible intermolecular proton shifting (IPS) coupled with spin transition (ST) in a novel Fe^II complex. The host Fe^II complex and the guest carboxylic acid anion were connected by intermolecular hydrogen bonds (IHBs). We extended the intramolecular proton transfer coupled ST phenomenon to the intermolecular system. The dynamic phenomenon was confirmed by variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction, neutron crystallography, and infrared spectroscopy. The mechanism of IPS was further validated using density functional theory calculations. The discovery of IPS-coupled ST in crystalline molecular materials provides good insights into fundamental processes and promotes the design of novel multifunctional materials with tunable properties for various applications, such as optoelectronics, information storage, and molecular devices.