Control of spins by ring deformation in a diiron(III)bisporphyrin: reversal of ClO4⁻ and CF3SO3⁻ ligand field strength in the magnetochemical series.

The complete reversal of the ligand field strength of ClO(4)(-) and CF(3)SO(3)(-) in the magnetochemical series is observed in a diiron(III)bisporphyrin. While ClO(4)(-), as the axial ligand, gives a typical high-spin complex, just twisting the conformation of the porphyrin macrocycle gives properties of a pure intermediate-spin state with CF(3)SO(3)(-), although the axial ligand strengths suggest the reverse order of spin stabilization.