Abstract
Chiral iron(II) complexes, [Fe{(R)-L}(2)(NCS)(2)] (1) and [Fe{(S)-L}(2)(NCS)(2)] (2), and racemic complex [Fe(rac)-L)(2)(NCS)(2)] (3) {L = alpha-methyl-N-(2-pyridinylmethylene)cyclohexanemethanamine} were synthesized. Their structures and magnetic properties were investigated by X-ray crystallography, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. Complexes 1 and 2 crystallize in the trigonal system with space group P3(1)21 and P3(2)21, respectively. All complexes exhibit spin-crossover (SCO) behavior and light induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effects at 532 nm. Complexes 1 and 2 show similar gradual SCO behavior, and complex 3 shows more gradual SCO, which seems to be a result of the different crystal packing, as complex 3 is the symmetric isomer but 1 and 2 are asymmetric.