Searching for switchable molecular conductors: Salts of [M(dcbdt)2] (M = Ni, Au) anions with [Fe(sal2-trien)]+ and [Fe(phen)3]2+

Salts of [FeIII(sal2-trien)]+and [FeII(phen)3]2+ cations and M[(dcbdt)2]− anions with M = Ni and Au (dcbdt = dicyanobenzenedithiolate) with formula [Fe(sal2-trien)] [M(dcbdt)2] and [Fe(phen)3] [M(dcbdt)2]2 were obtained and characterized by single X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. None of these salts shows a clear spin crossover behaviour and their magnetic properties are due essentially to the cations in a high spin S = 5/2 and low spin states for the FeIII and FeII salts respectively. The magnetic Ni sublattices in both compounds appear to have a negligible direct contribution to the magnetization but enhance the AF interactions in the cation sublattice.