Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel bis-tridentate 1,3,4-thiadiazole ligand (L = 2,5-bis[(2-pyridylmethyl)thio]methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole). Two new mononuclear complexes of the type [MII(L)2](ClO4)2 (with M = FeII (C1) and CoII (C2)) have been synthesized, containing the new ligand (L). In both complexes the metal centers are coordinated by an N4S2-donorset and each of the two ligands is donating to the metal ion with just one of the tridentate pockets. The iron(II) complex (C1) is in the low spin [LS] state below room temperature and shows an increase in the magnetic moment only above 300 K. In contrast, the cobalt(II) complex (C2) shows a gradual spin crossover (SCO) with T1/2 = 175 K. To our knowledge, this is the first cobalt(II) SCO complex with an N4S2-coordination.
Keywords: 1,3,4-thiadiazole; N4S2-donorset; cobalt(II); iron(II); magnetism; spin crossover.