Spin-crossover between high-spin (S = 5/2) and low-spin (S = 1/2) states in six-coordinate iron(iii) porphyrin complexes having two pyridine-N oxide derivatives.

In contrast to the general tendency that six coordinate iron(iii) porphyrin complexes with neutral oxygen ligands adopt a high-spin state in a wide range of temperature, some complexes with substituted pyridine N-oxides have exhibited spin-crossover from high-spin to low-spin states with decreasing temperature both in solution and in the solid state.