A novel LIESST iron(II) complex exhibiting a high relaxation temperature.

The spin-crossover iron(II) complex [Fe(L)(CN)2]·H2O (1) has been investigated. Complex 1 has a pentagonal bipyramidal structure which is seven-coordinated, containing an N3O2 macrocycle and two CN- ligands. Water molecules bind the complex by means of hydrogen bonding. It was found that the complex 1 exhibited a light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect. The relaxation temperature is above 130 K, which is the highest temperature for LIESST compounds reported so far.