The spin transition of Fe2+ ions in the mononuclear compound
cis-bis(thiocyanato)-bis(N-2'-pyridylmethylene)-4-(aminobiphenyl)-iron(II) is
studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of Mn2+. In
cooling the compound down to the temperature range 174-168 K, the Fe2+ ions undergo a complete transition from the high spin (HS, S = 2) to
the low spin (LS, S = 0) state, occurring with a narrow, ~5 K and
unusually sharp hysteresis loop. The temperature dependence of the unit cell
parameters is almost linear on both sides of the spin transition; the
variation of the unit cell parameters at the spin transition is very
anisotropic. The EPR spectra, typical of the Mn2+ ion, only
gradually change with temperature in the two spin states of Fe2+
but undergo a striking transformation in the spin transition range. This shows
that a considerable cooperativity exists between the metal ions. Computer
simulations using a laboratory-developed simulation program indicate
significant changes in the zero-field splitting (zfs) parameters in the course
of the spin transition. Lower-than-axial symmetry of the environment of Mn2+ persists in both spin states of Fe2+; however, a stronger
axial distortion arises in the HS state.
The temperature variations of the zfs parameter D are related to
transformations of the crystal structure using the Newman superposition model
amended for contributions of thermal expansion of the crystal lattice and
lattice vibrations. Computer fits show a reduction of the model
parameter - power law exponent - in the LS state, t2 = 4, in comparison with
the HS state, t2 = 8. Such a tendency is consistent with the decrease of the
Fe-N bond lengths in the HS to LS transition.