| Abstract
| - A phase transition in an amphiphilic mesophase is explored to deliberately induce mechanicalstrain in an assembly of tightly coupled metal ion coordination centers. Melting of the alkyl chains in theamphiphilic mesophase causes distortion of the coordination geometry around the central transition metalion. As a result, the crystal field splitting of the d-orbital subsets decreases resulting in a spin transitionfrom a low-spin to a high-spin state. The diamagnetic−paramagnetic transition is reversible. This conceptis demonstrated in a metallo-supramolecular coordination polyelectrolyte−amphiphile complex self-assembled from ditopic bis-terpyridines, Fe(II) as central transition metal, and dialkyl phosphates asamphiphiles. The magnetic properties are studied in a Langmuir−Blodgett multilayer. The modularity ofthis concept provides extensive control of structure and function from molecular to macroscopic lengthscales and gives access to a wide range of new molecular magnetic architectures such as nanostructures,thin films, and liquid crystals.
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