The construction of mechanically responsive materials which exhibit durability, reversibility and good stability is a challenging task (Ramirez et al., 2013 ▸; Panda et al., 2014 ▸). Structural studies on mechanically responsive materials have gained importance due to their wide ranging applications in materials science and medicine (Liu et al., 2014 ▸). Solids which are responsive to external stimuli such as heat, pressure, humidity, light and can convert them efficiently into work are potential candidates for development as smart materials, e.g. artificial muscles, actuators, biomimetic and technomematic materials (Liu et al., 2014 ▸; Lehn, 2002 ▸; Ikeda et al., 2007 ▸; Sagara & Kato, 2009 ▸; Rowan, 2009 ▸; Takashima et al., 2012 ▸; Mather, 2007 ▸; Sato, 2016 ▸).The efficient conversion of light and heat energy into mechanical work by dense and orderly packed crystals was reviewed recently (Naumov et al., 2015 ▸). Mechanical response occurs when the material is heated, or exposed to light/pressure, that causes an increase in the strain inside the crystal lattice. Thermosalient effects of (phenyl­azophenyl)-Pd-(hexafluoroacetonate) complex was first reported by Etter & Siedle (1983 ▸). Recently, Panda et al. (2014 ▸) revisited the same complex and observed positive and negative thermal expansion and thermosalient effects. Desiraju and co-workers (Ghosh et al., 2015 ▸) reported that thermosalient effects are mainly due to a sharp phase transition and anisotropy in structural parameters. Vittal’s group reported photo actuation in Zn metal complexes due to an increase in strain by sudden expansion during 2 + 2 photo cycloaddition reaction (Medishetty et al., 2014 ▸). Naumov’s group (Sahoo et al., 2013 ▸; Nath et al., 2014 ▸, 2015 ▸) analyzed thermosalient crystals and classified them into three classes. If the molecule does not have any strong hydrogen-bonding donor and acceptor groups, then it is classified as Class I. Class II consists of molecules with hydrogen-bonding groups in a crowded environment, which will not allow strong hydrogen bonding, and Class III molecules have good hydrogen-bonding functional groups which participate in strong hydrogen bonds. There are a few examples of both thermomechanical and photomechanical effects in crystals (Naumov et al., 2015 ▸; Lusi & Bernstein, 2013 ▸; Skoko et al., 2010 ▸; Medishetty et al., 2015 ▸; Mishra et al., 2015 ▸; Takeda & Akutagawa, 2016 ▸; Lieberman et al., 2000 ▸; Brandel et al., 2015 ▸).