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Valence tautomeric complexes (VT) are promising systems for creating molecular devices. From this viewpoint, valence tautomeric complexes with a hysteresis loop on the magnetic curve are of special interest as potential memory elements. The hysteresis loop is a consequence of retarded structural rearrangements which investigation is an actual problem. Recently, we have described a new VT transition taking place in a bis-dioxolene cobalt complex with imino-pyridine having a TEMPO substituent (A. A. Zolotukhin, et al. , Inorg. Chem. , 2017, 56 , 14751-14754). Valence tautomeric transformation occurs with a hysteresis loop and is accompanied by a phase transition. The phase transition taking place during cooling is accompanied by crystal destruction. This fact makes it impossible to monitor the structural changes responsible for the hysteresis loop. The current research attempts to resolve this problem. A nickel compound of the same composition (TEMPO-imino-pyridine)Ni(3,6-DBSQ) 2 was synthesized and characterized. It was established to be isostructural with the cobalt complex. It was used as an inert matrix for the dilution of the VT cobalt complex. The number of solid solutions with Co/Ni ratios of 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 4, and 1 : 8 was obtained. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that VT transformation with a hysteresis loop takes place in all solid solutions. The hysteresis loop is shifted to low temperatures primarily due to the shifting of its low-temperature boundary with dilution. The hysteresis width does not change significantly with dilution. DSC detected that transformations are accompanied by phase transitions at different temperatures at cooling and heating. The phase transition at the first cooling occurs at slightly lower temperatures compared with subsequent cycles. These temperatures correspond to the transition temperatures detected from the magnetic curves. The phase transition during the first cooling is accompanied by crystal destruction. Physical destruction takes place in the crystals of all solid solutions. X-ray diffraction powder patterns confirm that phase transition is accompanied by considerable reorganization of the crystal structure typical for the first order transitions. The unit cell volume of solid solutions is larger than that of pure complexes. Especially calculated crystal invariom indicated that the "lattice energy" in a solid solution is the lowest compared with that in "pure" nickel and cobalt complexes.

It was found that the dicarbonyl-rhodium- o -semiquinonate complex (which thread-like crystals can bend reversibly under light/warm activation) can form two polymorphic modifications: isometric prisms ( 1 ) and sticks ( 2 ). Some thin sticks can bend as mentioned above. X-ray diffraction studies of polymorphic modifications at different temperatures were carried out. It was found that crystals 1 are destructed after cooling to 110 K as opposed to crystals 2 . In turn, the reversible phase transition is detected in 2 . In both polymorphic modifications, stack packaging motifs through the direct Rh-Rh bond are observed. The principal difference between packages of polymorphic modifications is that molecules 1 in the adjacent stacks are shifted relative to each other along the stack, in contrast to crystal 2 . It was found that different packing of stacks leads to different anisotropic compression of crystals 1 and 2 during cooling, which is a key factor of their stability. Using the molecular invariom approach, the nature of the chemical bonds and charge distribution was investigated; the energy of the Rh-Rh bonds was estimated., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2020 American Chemical Society.)

Especially grown crystals (elongated plates) of the complex (1,10-phen)Co(3,6-DBSQ) 2 ( 1 ) reversibly elastically bend under laser excitation (532 or 808 nm) and/or heating in the temperature interval ∼242-265 K (1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 3,6-DBSQ = anion-radical and 3,6-DBCat = dianion of 3,6-di- tert -butyl- o -benzoquinone). The abrupt interconversion of valence tautomers is observed in this temperature range: (phen)Co(3,6-DBCat)(3,6-DBSQ) ⇌ (phen)Co(3,6-DBSQ) 2 . Solving the problem of design of photo- (thermo-) actuators with preset parameters, the series of solid solutions of general formula (phen) x (bpy) 1- x Co(3,6-DBSQ) 2 was obtained and crystallized as thin elongated plates. Crystals of each solid solution demonstrate the maximal photomechanical response (bending) at a temperature close to its own valence tautomeric (VT) transition temperature. On the other hand, the VT transition temperature depends on the composition of the solid solution. So, by setting the composition of the solid solution, one can set the temperature of the photomechanical response. It is the first example of temperature-manageable photomechanical properties.

A square-planar bis-o-semiquinonato nickel complex interacts with N,N'-disubstituted 1,4-diazabutadienes-1,3 forming six-coordinate compounds. The X-ray structural study indicates complex geometry to be close to the octahedral. Magnetic properties are determined by metal-ligand ferromagnetic exchange interactions which are promoted by complex geometry. In polar solvents (THF, CH2Cl2, and CHCl3) complexes are partly dissociated into corresponding diazabutadiene-nickel catecholate and free o-quinone. In the case of the most sterically hindered 1,4-bis-(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diazabutadiene-1,3 in n-hexane or toluene the above-mentioned reaction is accompanied by the coupling through the back-bonded methyl groups of diazabutadiene. The organic product of the coupling was eliminated from the complex, isolated and structurally characterized. Taking into account the quantitative yield the coupling reaction is the actual procedure for the synthesis of new potential nitrogen ligands.

Iminopyridine modified by TEMPO nitroxide was utilized for the synthesis of an octahedral bis(o-semiquinonato)cobalt complex. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements detect a valence tautomeric transformation in the temperature range 200-300 K. A reproducible hysteresis loop of about 40 K width is observed on the magnetic moment temperature dependence in the transition region. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements confirm different temperatures of phase transitions accompanying a valence-tautomeric transformation upon heating and cooling. Attempts to study the structural changes associated with the valence-tautomeric transformation by single-crystal X-ray diffraction failed because of the crystal destruction taking place upon cooling from 220 K. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern indicated an essential change of the unit cell upon cooling from 240 K.

A new bis(3,6-di-tert-butyl-catecholato)manganese complex with two 4-NIT-Py ligands was synthesized and characterized [4-NIT-Py = pyridine substituted at position 4 with nitronyl-nitroxide radical, 2-(pyridin-4-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-3-oxide-1-oxyl]. X-ray diffraction indicated an octahedral environment of the manganese atom with a trans arrangement of ligands. Bonds lengths in the inner coordination core of the metal and in the chelate cycles that are representative of the charge distribution between the metal and ligands displayed a Mn(IV)(Cat 2- ) 2 charge distribution. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements detected intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling between the Mn(IV) S = 3 / 2 spins and spins of nitronyl-nitroxyls and intermolecular ferromagnetic interactions of spins of adjacent nitronyl-nitroxide fragments in a chain of molecules at low temperatures. The last phenomenon is revealed by short contacts between nitronyl-nitroxide radicals of adjacent complex molecules.

Two redox-isomeric (valence tautomeric) complexes (2,2'-bpy)Co(3,6-DBSQ)2 (1) and (1,10-phen)Co(3,6-DBSQ)2 (2) (where 2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-dipyridine; 1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; 3,6-DBSQ = 3,6-di-tert-butyl-benzosemiquinone-1,2) reveal phase transitions that accompany redox-isomeric interconversions of semiquinone-catecholato isomer into a bis-(semiquinonato) one. Phase transitions differ one from another by thermodynamic parameters (transition temperature and interval, enthalpy, and entropy). Complexes 1 and 2 have the same crystal system and space group, and they form solid solutions with any molar ratio. The number of solid solutions with the molar ratios of 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, and 1:16 of 1 per 2, respectively, were obtained. Product with 1:1 ratio was studied by precise calorimetry, by variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility, and by X-ray structural analysis. All solid solutions were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry. Each solid solution possesses phase transition whose parameters depend on its composition. Transition temperature and enthalpy gradually grow with increasing of molar fraction of 1. The diagram "enthalpy-composition" is linear, whereas phase diagram "transition temperature-composition" is the bent-up arc.

A square-pyramidal mixed-halogen nickel(III) NCN-pincer complex (PipeNCN)NiClBr (where PipeNCN=2,6-bis(piperidinomethyl)phenyl) was structurally characterized. Bromine occupies apical position; pincer ligand and chlorine atom are in the basal plane. EPR detects that complex in solution exists as a mixture of two structural isomers with bromine or chlorine atoms in the top of pyramid.

o-Semiquinonic nickel pincer complexes (R2PCP)Ni(SQ) show a versatile coordination sphere dynamics via "swing" or "fan" oscillations depending on the steric properties of the phosphorus substituents.

A number of square pyramidal o-semiquinonic nickel complexes with 2,6-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenyl were investigated by EPR spectroscopy in solution. The complexes have flexible coordination spheres and can exist in solution as two isomers rapidly (on the EPR timescale) interconverting one to another at room temperature. The equilibrium is entropy driven and does not significantly depend on the substituents in the semiquinone ring. The spin density distribution depends on mesomeric properties and bulkiness of substituents in ortho-position to oxygen atoms.

Square pyramidal o-semiquinonic nickel complexes with 2,6-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenyl have a flexible coordination sphere and exist in solution as the mixture of tautomers rapidly, according to EPR time scale, interconverting at room temperature.