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

Salts of [Fe^III(sal₂-trien)]⁺and [Fe^II(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 Fe^III and Fe^II 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.