Symmetry breaking above room temperature in an Fe(II) spin crossover complex with an N4O2 donor set

[Fe(qsal-Cl)(2)] is one of the few known Fe(II) spin crossover compounds with an N4O2 donor atom environment. It shows an abrupt two-step spin transition at 308 and 316 K and importantly, symmetry breaking at the highest temperature reported, to date, in spin crossover compounds.