The Conducting Spin-Crossover Compound Combining Fe(II) Cation Complex with TCNQ in a Fractional Reduction State

The radical anion salt [Fe{HC(pz)3}2](TCNQ)3 demonstrates conductivity and spin-crossover (SCO) transition associated with Fe(II) complex cation subsystem. It was synthesized and structurally characterized at temperatures 100, 300, 400, and 450 K. The compound demonstrates unusual for 7,7,8,8,-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ)-based salts quasi-two-dimensional conductivity. Pronounced changes of the in-plane direct-current resistivity and intensity of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal, originated from TCNQ subsystem, precede the SCO transition at the midpoint T* = 445 K. The boltzmannian growth of the total magnetic response and structural changes in the vicinity of T* uniquely show that half [Fe{HC(pz)3}2] cations exist in high-spin state. Robust broadening of the EPR signal triggered by the SCO transition is interpreted in terms of cross relaxation between the TCNQ and Fe(II) spin subsystems.