Metallosupramolecular coordination polyelectrolytes (MEPEs) based on rigid and flexible ditopic bis-terpyridine ligands and Fe(II) ions are investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy. We demonstrate the influence of mechanical stress induced by grinding on the structure of MEPE as well as the ability of MEPE to self-repair through recrystallisation.
The precursor [FeIII(L)Cl] (LH<sub2 = N,N'-bis(2'-hydroxy-benzyliden)-1,6-diamino-3-N-hexane is a high-spin (S = 5/2) complex. This precursor is combined with the bridging units [SnIV(X)4] (X = CN-, NCS-) to yield star-shaped pentanuclear clusters, [(LFeIII-X)4Sn]Cl4. For X = CN- the 57Fe-Mössbauer data show a multiple spin transition between iron(III) in the high-spin and low-spin state, while the 119mSn-Mössbauer data indicate a valence tautomerism between Sn(IV) and Sn(II). Changing the bridging unit from X = CN- to X = NCS- turns the switchability off.