A Decade of Octacyanides in Polynuclear Molecular Materials

The aim and the scope of this review is to show the results of ten years of research following the first reports on magnetic and photomagnetic assemblies constructed from [M(CN)(8)](n-). It is illustrated on the basis of our own work as well as a wide range of studies carried out in numerous laboratories around the world. The diversity and evolution of topological and structural patterns is discussed alongside synthetic strategies, which led to the establishment of regular magnetostructural correlations in selected 3D systems. Different types of functionality observed in solid phases are presented with special attention devoted to tuning of magnetic properties by physical and chemical stimuli. Examples of advanced properties discovered in octacyanometallate-based magnetic materials comprise SMMs (single molecule magnets) and SCMs (single chain magnets), nonlinear effects MSHG (magnetization-induced second harmonic generation) and chirality, SCO (spin crossover) and luminescence. The potential of the development of octacyanometallate-based coordination assemblies towards addressable, multifunctional molecular materials for future application is discussed.