A supramolecular helicate with two independent Fe(ii) switchable centres and a [Fe(anilate)3]3− guest

Abstract

A biphenyl-spaced bis-pyrazolylpyridine ligand interacts with ferrous ions to engender a dimetallic helical coordination cage that encapsulates an Fe³⁺ tris-anilate complex. The host–guest interaction breaks the symmetry of the Fe²⁺ centers causing a differential spin crossover behavior in them that can be followed in great detail crystallographically.