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

Abstract

It is a challenge to reversibly switch both magnetism and polarity using light irradiation. Herein we report a linear Fe₂ Co complex, whereby interconversion between Fe^III_LS (μ-CN)Co^II_HS (μ-NC)Fe^III_LS (LS=low-spin, HS=high-spin) and Fe^III_LS (μ-CN)Co^III_LS (μ-NC)Fe^II_LS 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.