The synthesis and structural, spectral, and
magnetic characterizations of two new complexes of formula [Pt(IM
2Py)Cl
2] (
A) and [Pd(IM
2Py)Cl
2] (
B) are reported. IM
2Py stands for the imino-nitroxide radical ligand 2-(ortho-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl. Their crystal structures were solved at room temperature and at 120 K revealingstructural phase transitions from pseudo-orthorhombic to monoclinic systems for the two compounds which remainisostructural in the whole temperature range explored. Structural parameters for
A:
T = 293 K [120 K], monoclinic(
P2
1/
n) [
P2
1/
c],
a = 7.906(2) [7.989(3)] Å,
b = 17.872(9) [10.168(4)] Å,
c = 10.357(3) [17.623(6)] Å,
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
= 90.732(13)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
[95.940(2)]
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
,
Z = 4 [4]. Structural parameters for
B:
T = 293 K [120 K], monoclinic (
P2
1/
n) [
P2
1/
c],
a =7.900(3) [7.9730(2)] Å,
b = 17.907(9) [10.1806(3)] Å,
c = 10.299(3) [17.7171(4)] Å,
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
= 90.524(14)
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
[95.747(2)]
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
,
Z = 4 [4]. In both complexes, the metal coordination is essentially planar. The average Pt-N, Pt-Cl and Pd-N,Pd-Cl bond lengths are 1.996(6) [1.88], 2.295(2) [2.248(8)] Å and 2.015(7) [2.029(8)], 2.287(3) [2.294(3)] Å,respectively. The solid state structure is characterized by a pairlike molecular packing stacked in columns parallelto the
a axis; this dimer character is reinforced at low temperature. Despite their structural similarity, the investigationof the
magnetic properties revealed that dominant ferro
magnetic interactions govern the behavior of the Pt derivative
A, whereas antiferro
magnetic interactions take place for the Pd compound
B. A rationalization for this rather intriguingdifference is proposed in light of the spin population deduced from density functional theory calculations. Theelectronic absorption spectra of
A and
B present structured absorption bands in the visible which are attributed toMLCT transitions. Both compounds are nonluminescent at room temperature. However, a weak emission is detectedfor
A in butyronitrile glasses at 77 K, indicating that the MLCT excited state is strongly quenched at low temperature.