Four-step iron(ii) spin state cascade driven by antagonistic solid state interactions.

A four-stepped cascade of Fe(ii) high spin (HS) to low spin (LS) states is demonstrated in a family of 2-D Hofmann materials, [Fe(saltrz)(M(CN))]·8(HO) (M = Pd ( ), Pt ( ); saltrz = ()-2-(((4-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)imino)methyl)phenol). Alongside the fully HS and LS Fe(ii) states, fractional spin state stabilization occurs at HS/LS values of 5/6, 2/3, and 1/6. This unconventional spin state periodicity is driven by the presence of multiple spin crossover (SCO) active Fe(ii) sites which are in subtly distinct environments driven by a network of antagonistic host-host and host-guest interactions. Alternating long- and short-range magnetostructural ordering is achieved over the five distinct spin state ratios HSLS, HSLS, HSLS, HSLS, and HSLS owing to the flexibility of this 2-D interdigitated lattice topology interconnected by intermolecular interactions. A distinct wave-like spin state patterning is structurally evidenced for each intermediate phase.