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The demand to remediate environment issues and solve energy crises is a long-term challenge between the increasing world population for better life and limited unsustainable resources. Among various possibilities, solar...

Spin crossover complexes containing 3d4-3d7 transition metal ions with tunable electronic configurations in appropriate ligand field environments have been extensively investigated. In contrast, the development of 3d8 divalent nickel complexes displaying such a spin crossover behavior is far behind. The increasing number of X-ray single crystal structures along with magnetic evidence and thermodynamic equilibrium indicate that bistable divalent nickel complexes are gradually recognized to be a formal member of the "spin crossover family". Unfortunately, the rarity of nickel spin crossover complexes is occasionally mentioned. This Perspective article highlights examples of mononuclear 3d8 nickel spin crossover complexes in dynamic rearrangements with characterized solid state structures from the viewpoint of types of ligands utilized.

Pseudotetrahedral scorpionato halide complexes [(TpPh,Me)Ni–X] [TpPh,Me = hydrotris(3-phenyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate] were synthesized by metathesis of Tl(TpPh,Me) and NiX2 (X = Cl, Br, I). Pyrazole adducts [(TpPh,Me)Ni(HpzPh,Me)(X)] (X = Cl, I) were also obtained. [(TpPh,Me)Ni–X] (X = Br, I) are isomorphous with previously reported [(TpPh,Me)Ni–Cl], and a new solvated pseudo-polymorph [(TpPh,Me)Ni–Cl]·2CH2Cl2 was found in this work. Ni–X bond lengths correspond to ionic radii of the halide ions, but some variations in Ni–Cl and Ni–N bond lengths are respectively attributed to bending of the chloride from the ideal threefold HB···Ni axis and to the size of the 3-pyrazole substituents. Electronic spectra were rationalized by means of time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations on simplified C3v-symmetric [(Tp)Ni–X] models. Exogenous pyrazole binds to give the pentacoordinate adducts [(TpPh,Me)Ni(HpzPh,Me)(X)] (X = Cl, I). We obtained a crystal structure of the iodide adduct, as well as that of [(TpPh,Me)Ni(HpzPh,Me)(Cl)]·0.5MeCN, isomorphous with a previously reported aquo monosolvate. A hallmark of adduct formation is an intramolecular N–H···X hydrogen bond between the added pyrazole and the adjacent halide ligand, thus giving rise to a strong IR absorption band. The stretching frequency correlates to the N(H)···X separation for the range of known adducts.

A series of aromatic diimide and monoimide compounds condensed with p-phenylamino(phenyl)amine were synthesized and confirmed by Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR), Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Elemental Analysis (EA), and High Resolution Mass Spectroscopy (HRMS). Meanwhile, single crystal X-ray diffraction showed the existence of intermolecular N&middot, &middot, O hydrogen bonds, which affected the thermal stabilities of corresponding compounds by the support of Thermalgravimetric Analysis (TGA) curves. The steady-state UV-vis absorption peaks of synthetic compounds 1&ndash, 6 appeared in the range of 220&ndash, 380 nm. Fluorescence emission spectra showed peaks in the range of 290&ndash, 420 nm. Meanwhile, deep-blue or violet-blue emissions for 2, 4, and 5 in THF under excitations of 254 nm and 365 nm, respectively, were observed at room temperature in air. Furthermore, Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammogram CV were conducted within &minus, 1.5&ndash, +1.5 V to show quasi-reversible behavior for conjugated compounds and irreversible behavior for less conjugated ones.

Synthesis and characterization of several new pseudotetrahedral arylthiolate complexes [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-SAr] (Tp(Ph,Me) = hydrotris{3-phenyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl}borate; Ar = Ph, 2,4,6-(i)Pr3C6H2, C6H4-4-Cl, C6H4-4-Me, C6H4-4-OMe) are reported, including X-ray crystal structures of the first two complexes. With prior results, two series of complexes are spanned, [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-S-2,4,6-RC6H2] (R'' = H, Me, (i)Pr) plus the xylyl analogue [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-S-2,6-Me2C6H3], as well as [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-S-C6H4-4-Y] (Y = Cl, H, Me, OMe), intended to elucidate steric and/or electronic effects on arylthiolate coordination. In contrast to [(Tp(Me,Me))Ni-SAr] analogues that adopt a sawhorse conformation, the ortho-disubstituted complexes show enhanced trigonal and Ni-S-Ar bending, reflecting the size of the 3-pyrazole substituents. Moreover, weakened scorpionate ligation is implied by spectroscopic data. Little spectroscopic effect is observed in the series of para-substituted complexes, suggesting the observed effects are primarily steric in origin. The relatively electron-rich and encumbered complex [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-S-2,4,6-(i)Pr3C6H2] behaves uniquely when dissolved in CH3CN, forming a square planar solvent adduct with a bidentate scorpionate ligand, [(κ(2)-Tp(Ph,Me))Ni(NCMe)(S-2,4,6-(i)Pr3C6H2)]. This adduct was isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Single-point DFT and TD-DFT calculations on a simplified [(κ(2)-Tp)Ni(NCMe)(SPh)] model were used to clarify the electronic spectrum of the adduct, and to elucidate differences between Ni-SAr bonding and spectroscopy between pseudotetrahedral and square planar geometries.