Structural Insights into the Two-Step Spin-Crossover Compound Fe(3,4-dimethyl-pyridine)2[Ag(CN)2]2

The crystal structure of the polymeric spin crossover compound Fe(3,4-dimethyl-pyridine)(2)[Ag(CN)(2)](2) has been solved and its temperature dependence followed by means of single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. This compound presents a two-step spin transition with relatively abrupt steps centred at ca. 170 K and 145 K and a plateau at around 155 K. The origin of the two-step transition is discussed in light of these structural studies. The observations are compatible with a mostly disordered state between the two steps, consisting of mixing of high-spin and low-spin species, while weak substructure reflections in the mixed phase could indicate some degree of long-range order of the high-spin and low-spin sites.