Vapochromic behaviour of a nickel(II)-quinonoid complex with dimensional changes between 1D and higher.

The nickel(ii)-chloranilato complex {Ni(ca)(VM)2}n (H2ca = chloranilic acid, VM = coordinated vapour molecules, such as water) shows reversible vapochromism upon exposure to various vapours and subsequent drying by heating. In contrast to the Ni(ii)-quinonoid complex, [Ni(HLMe)2] (H2LMe = 4-methylamino-6-methyliminio-3-oxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-olate), which was reported to exhibit vapochromic spin-state switching between high and low spin states, the chloranilato complex does not change its spin state even after the removal of coordinated vapour molecules. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis revealed that the six-coordinate geometry of {Ni(ca)(VM)2}n was maintained even after the removal of vapour molecules, in contrast to the [Ni(HLMe)2] complex. The unique vapochromism that follows the dimensional change between 1D and higher is influenced by the relatively weaker ligand field of the chloranilate ligand.

Methanol-Triggered Vapochromism Coupled with Solid-State Spin Switching in a Nickel(II)-Quinonoid Complex.

A highly methanol-selective vapochromic response has been realized in a NiII -quinonoid complex, [Ni(HLMe )2 ] (H2 LMe =4-methylamino-6-methyliminio-3-oxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-olate) which exhibits a reversible structural transformation including a coordination geometrical change between the square-planar and octahedral structure by the selective uptake of methanol vapor. This was accompanied by a remarkable color change between purple and orange, as well as temperature-robust spin-state switching in the solid state under ambient conditions. It is remarkable that the properties are derived by the fine structural modification of the quinonoid ligand such as methyl or ethyl analogues. Such a system has high potential for applications in memory devices as well as chemical sensors and smart responsive materials.