Metal complexes with thiocyanate
(SCN–) ligands
typically exhibit S- or N-coordinated
linkage isomers. In this study, to explore ionic liquids that exhibit
stimuli-responsiveness based on linkage isomerization, we synthesized
an ionic liquid containing a cationic half-sandwich thiocyanate complex,
[Ru(C6H6)(NCS)L]Tf2N (L = N-hexyl-2-pyridinemethanimine, Tf2N = bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide
anion). The as-synthesized ionic liquid was a 0.7:0.3 mixture of N- and S-coordinated isomers, presenting
as an extremely viscous liquid exhibiting a glass transition at 0
°C. Isomerization from the N- to the S-coordinated isomer occurred upon UV photoirradiation or
heating, although thermal isomerization was accompanied by significant
decomposition. The N- and S-coordinated
isomers were separated into brown and orange liquids, respectively,
using gel permeation chromatography. Each isomer exhibited a small
solvatochromic absorption shift in organic solvents, with different
solvent dependences observed for the two isomers.