Spin Transition Kinetics in the Salt [H2N(CH3)2]6[Fe3(L)6(H2O)6] (L = 4-(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethanedisulfonate)

The dimethylammonium salt of the Fe^II polyanionic trimer [Fe₃(μ-L)₆(H₂O)₆]⁶⁻ (L = 4-(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethanedisulfonate) exhibits a thermally induced spin transition above room temperature with one of the widest hysteresis cycles observed in a spin crossover compound (>85 K). Furthermore, the metastable high-spin (HS) state can be thermally trapped via relatively slow cooling, remaining metastable near room temperature, with a characteristic T_TIESST = 250 K (TIESST = temperature-induced excited spin-state trapping). The origin for this unique behavior is still uncertain. In this manuscript, we report detailed studies on the relaxation kinetics of this system in order to disclose the mechanism and cooperativity controlling this process.