The vibrational properties
of spin-crossover complexes [Fe(H2B(pz)2)2(L)] (pz = pyrazole) containing
L = 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands
are investigated by temperature-dependent infrared and Raman spectroscopy.
For comparison, the analogous cobalt(II) complexes [Co(H2B(pz)2)2(L)] (L = bipy and phen) and iron(II)
compounds with L = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine and
4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline coligands are studied. Highly intense,
structured bands (giant Raman features, GRFs) are observed in the
resonance Raman spectra of all Fe(II) complexes between 400 and 500
cm–1 at low temperatures in the HS state which,
for the SCO complexes, is excited by the Raman laser. On the basis
of magnetic field Mössbauer and saturation magnetization data
electronic Raman effects are excluded to account for these features.
Furthermore, detailed vibrational analysis also allows excluding a
vibrational resonance Raman effect involving one of the modes of the
individual complexes as a possible origin of the GRFs. Consequently,
these features are attributed to coherent two-phonon excitation of
metal–ligand stretching vibrations in molecular dimers coupled
by π–π stacking interactions.