Magnetic and optical properties of trans-RSSR-[CrCl2(cyclam)]2ZnCl4 (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) attributed to counterion via hydrogen bonding

This is the first reported example of a photochromic property presented by the change of a counterion in a coordination compound: the colour of the trans-[CrCl2(cyclam)]2ZnCl4 (1) is dark green while the trans-[CrCl2(cyclam)]Cl (2) is a reddish purple. The dark green colour of 1 under a fluorescent lamp changes to a deep purple when it is irradiated with an incandescent lamp; when the latter light is turned off, the dark green colour reappears instantaneously, this being a reversible process. Besides, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of these polycrystalline samples show a very broad isotropic peak centred at g = 1.995 for 1 and for 2 a rhombic one at g = 4.309, 3.107 and 1.223. Their molar magnetic susceptibilities, χMdc, against temperature (2–300 K) follow Curie Weiss behaviour. For 1, a low antiferromagnetic coupling (θ = −2.78 K) in the solid state was found as it approaches 2 K, while for 2, there was found a smaller antiferromagnetic coupling (θ = −0.40 K). From the luminescence studies at 17 K, the lifetime for 1 was found to be twice that for 2. The crystal and molecular structure of 2 were determined and discussed. Compounds 1 and 2 show the same trans-RSSR configuration with different hydrogen bonding networks. In 1 the supramolecular array includes intermolecular interactions in which the chromium atoms interact through the zinc atom of the tetrachlorozincate counterion via hydrogen bonding with the extraordinary consequence of showing the previously described physical properties. This has been supported by theoretical calculations, in which it is clearly observed that the HOMO orbital of 1 is a highly delocalised molecular orbital among Cr(III)⋯Zn(II)⋯Cr(III), thus giving even more evidence for the strong Cr(III)–Cr(III) interaction through the ZnCl4 moiety via hydrogen bonding.