Discovery of spin-crossover (SCO) behavior in the family of Fe(II)-based Hofmann clathrates has led to a "new rush" in the field of bistable molecular materials. To date this class of SCO complexes is represented by several dozens of individual compounds, and areas of their potential application steadily increase. Starting from Fe(2+), square planar tetracyanometalates M(II)(CN)4(2-) (M(II) = Ni, Pd, Pt) and 2-substituted pyrazines Xpz (X = Cl, Me, I) as coligands we obtained a series of nine new Hofmann clathrate-like coordination frameworks. X-ray diffraction reveals that in these complexes Fe(II) ion has a pseudo-octahedral coordination environment supported by four μ4-tetracyanometallates forming its equatorial coordination environment. Depending on the nature of X and M, axial positions are occupied by two 2X-pyrazines (X = Cl and M(II) = Ni (1), Pd (2), Pt (3); X = Me and M(II) = Ni (4), Pd (5)) or one 2X-pyrazine and one water molecule (X = I and M(II) = Ni (7), Pd (8), Pt (9)), or, alternatively, two distinct Fe(II) positions with either two pyrazines or two water molecules (X = Me and M(II) = Pt (6)) are observed. Temperature behavior of magnetic susceptibility indicates that all compounds bearing FeN6 units (1-6) display cooperative spin transition, while Fe(II) ions in N5O or N4O2 surrounding are high spin (HS). Structural changes in the nearest Fe(II) environment upon low-spin (LS) to HS transition, which include ca. 10% Fe-N distance increase, lead to the cell expansion. Mössbauer spectroscopy is used to characterize the spin state of all HS, LS, and intermediate phases of 1-9 (see abstract figure). Effects of a pyrazine substituent and M(II) nature on the hyperfine parameters in both spin states are established.

New 3D lead halide hybrid perovskites have been obtained using a unique small aziridinium cation.

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Spin‐crossover complexes form one of the biggest families of switchable compounds. Here we show a new way to obtain spin‐crossover materials by direct synthesis from metallic iron. Four complexes of FeII with 4‐R‐1,2,4‐triazoles have been synthesized by a direct metal oxidation: [Fe(NH2trz)3]SO4, [Fe(NH2trz)3](BF4)2 and two polymorphs of [Fe(Htrz)2(trz)]BF4. Surprisingly high quality of PXRD pattern of [Fe(NH2trz)3]SO4 allowed to perform Rietveld refinement and obtain reliable crystal structure of the latter. All compounds have been studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements, optical reflectivity, differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy. Importantly, spin‐crossover characteristics of the complexes obtained by this unusual method are preserved, thus revealing a new effective approach of “direct synthesis” towards switchable coordination compounds.