Hydration-switchable charge transfer in the first bimetallic assembly based on the [Ni(cyclam)]3+ – magnetic CN-bridged chain {(H3O)[NiIII(cyclam)][FeII(CN)6]·5H2O}n

Abstract

An alternating bimetallic {(H₃O)[Ni^III(cyclam)][Fe^II(CN)₆]·5H₂O}_n chain undergoes reversible dehydration at 40 °C accompanied by electron transfer which leads to Ni^II–Fe^III in about 50% of metal centres. The hydrated dark blue form is a paramagnet while the dehydrated yellowish-green form shows ferromagnetic coupling between neighbouring Ni^II and Fe^III.