A bis(acetylacetonato-O,O′)(imidazole)nitrocobalt(III)
coordination compound was synthesized and characterized toward photoswitching
properties. The compound exists as two isomers, cis and trans, depending on the relative arrangement
of the two acetylacetone ligands chelating the metal center. Crystals
of both isomers were obtained. The cis form was proven
to be photoswitchable in the solid state at room temperature and also
to a lesser extent at lower temperatures down to 10 K, upon near-UV
irradiation (365–405 nm LED light). Based on the IR spectroscopic
results, the photo-reaction is very efficient under ambient conditions
with the maximum nitro-to-nitrito conversion reaching ca. 80%. The
reaction is reversible. The photo-induced isomer is stable at 100
K, whereas at room temperature, full sample relaxation is observed
7 h after irradiation. Photocrystallographic experiments indicated
the formation of the exo-nitrito isomer under continuous
illumination of the sample with the 405 nm LED light at room temperature.
The achieved conversion amounted to around 60%. In turn, the trans analogue does not exhibit photoswitching properties
under such conditions. The experimental solid-state spectroscopic
and X-ray diffraction results were supported by theoretical modeling
and physicochemical analyses. The differences in photoactivity of
the examined cis and trans isomers
of the studied compound in the solid state can be explained based
on steric and energetic factors.