Very Long-Lived Photogenerated High-Spin Phase of a Multistable Spin-Crossover Molecular Material

The spin-crossover compound [Fe­(n-Bu-im)3(tren)]­(PF6)2 shows an unusual long relaxation time of 20 h after light-induced excited spin state trapping when irradiating at 80 K. This is more than 40 times longer than when irradiating at 10 K. Optical absorption spectroscopy, magnetometry, and X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation were used to characterize and explain the different relaxation behaviors of this compound after irradiation below and above 70 K. Rearrangement of the butyl chains of the ligands occurring during the relaxation after irradiation above 70 K is thought to be responsible for the unusually long relaxation time at this temperature.