Saddle-Shaped Six-Coordinate Iron(III) Porphyrin Complexes Showing a Novel Spin Crossover betweenS=1/2 andS=3/2 Spin States

The field strength of the axial ligands determines the spin state of saddled iron(III) porphyrin complexes. Strong axial ligands (L), such as imidazole and 4-dimethylaminopyridine, lead to the formation of complexes with a pure S=1/2 state, while weak ligands, such as THF, give complexes with a pure S=3/2 state. Intermediate strength ligands, such as pyridine and 4-cyanopyridine, give complexes that show a novel spin crossover between the S=1/2 and S=3/2 states.