A Multi‐Redox Responsive Cyanometalate‐Based Metallogel

Abstract

A TTF‐based (TTF=tetrathiafulvalene) tridentate ligand (α‐(4′‐methyl‐4,5‐di‐n‐dodecylthylthiotetrathiafulvalene‐5′‐ylthio)‐ α′‐[2,2,2‐tris(1‐pyrazolyl)ethoxy]‐p‐xylene) (L) with long‐chain alkyl moieties was prepared in order to obtain a new multi‐redox active gelator based on a mixed‐metal octanuclear complex [Fe^III₄Ni^II₄(CN)₁₂(tp)₄(L)₄](BF₄)₄ (1). The magnetism, electrochemistry, and gelation behavior of 1 were studied and 1,2‐dichlorobenzene solutions of 1 are shown to display thermoreversible gelation behavior at room temperature. Furthermore, the gel phase of 1 was shown to undergo room‐temperature gel‐to‐sol transformations induced by both the oxidation and reduction of the gelator complex by F₄TCNQ or [Fe^II(Cp*)₂], respectively.