“…The energy difference between these two states, ΔE( 3 A 2 − 1 A 1 ), decreases in order from Co(OETPP)I to Co(OETPP)Br and then Co(OETPP)Cl. These results can be rationalized through a molecular orbital energy level representation from DFT fragment orbital calculations 15,16 (Scheme 1), which coincides with the effects on the d z 2 orbital by axial ligands and on the a 2u orbital by the para substituent of the meso-phenyl groups (Table 1). The most electronegative axial ligand (Cl), lowering the d z 2 orbital in energy, and the best electron-donating ring macrocycle [OET(p-CH 3 )PP], raising the a 2u orbital in energy, result in the weakest antiferromagnetic coupling in the Co[OET(p-R)PP]X (R = CF 3 , H, CH 3 ; X = I, Br, Cl) complexes (i.e., the weakest bond formation), 17 which, in turn, will decrease the energy difference between the singlet and triplet states and induce a larger contribution from the ferromagnetic triplet excited state.…”