Light-Induced Bidirectional Metal-to-Metal Charge Transfer in a Linear Fe2Co Complex

It is a challenge to reversibly switch both magnetism and polarity using light irradiation. Herein we report a linear Fe2Co complex, whereby interconversion between Fe-LS(III)(mu-CN) Co-II (HS)(mu-NC)Fe-LS(III) (LS = low-spin, HS = high-spin) and Fe-LS(III)(mu-CN)Co-LS(III)(mu-NC)Fe-LS(II) linkages could be achieved upon heating and cooling, or alternating laser irradiation at 808 and 532 nm. The electron spin arrangement and charge distribution were simultaneously tuned accompanying bidirectional metal-to-metal charge transfer, providing switchable polarity and magnetism in the complex.