Photocrystallographic and spectroscopic studies of a model (N,N,O)-donor square-planar nickel(II) nitro complex: in search of high-conversion and stable photoswitchable materials

A new, cheap, easy-to-synthesize and air-stable photoswitchable nickel(II) complex, QTNiNO(2), is reported. The metal centre in QTNiNO(2) is coordinated by a nitro group and a [2-methyl-8-amino­quinoline]-1-tetralone ligand. The compound crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4(1)/a with one complex molecule comprising the asymmetric unit, and the crystals are stable under ambient conditions. Irradiation of the solid-state form of QTNiNO(2) with 530–660 nm LED light at 160 K converts the ambidentate nitro moiety fully to the nitrito linkage isomer which is stable up to around 230 K, as indicated by IR spectroscopy measurements. The structures of all species present in the examined crystals and their thermal stability were confirmed via X-ray multi-temperature and photocrystallographic experiments. The impact of temperature on the (photo)isomerization reaction taking place in a single crystal was additionally investigated. The experimental results are supported by computational analyses of crystal packing and intermolecular interactions that influence the isomerization process studied.