Switchable Spin-Crossover Hofmann-Type 3D Coordination Polymers Based on Tri- and Tetratopic Ligands.

FeII spin-crossover (SCO) coordination polymers of the Hofmann type have become an archetypal class of responsive materials. Almost invariably, the construction of their architectures has been based on the use of monotopic and linear ditopic pyridine-like ligands. In the search for new Hofmann-type architectures with SCO properties, here we analyze the possibilities of bridging ligands with higher connectivity degree. More precisely, the synthesis and structure of {FeII(LN3)[MI(CN)2]2}·(Guest) (Guest = nitrobenzene, benzonitrile, o-dichlorobenzene; MI = Ag, Au) and {FeII(LN4)[Ag2(CN)3][Ag(CN)2]}·H2O are described, where LN3 and LN4 are the tritopic and tetratopic ligands 1,3,5-tris(pyridin-4-ylethynyl)benzene and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(pyridin-4-ylethynyl)benzene. This new series of Hofmann clathrates displays thermo- and photoinduced SCO behaviors.