Synthesis and characterization of a dinuclear manganese(III,III) complex with three phenolate ligands

A dinuclear manganese complex ([Mn2L(mu-OAc)(2)]PF6) has been synthesized, where L is the trianion of 2,6-bis{[(2-hydroxy-3,5-di- tert-butylbenzyl) (2-pyridylmethyl) amino] methyl)-4-methylphenol, a ligand with three phenolate groups. The two pseudo-octahedrally coordinated Mn ions are bridged via the two bidentate acetate ligands and the 4-methylphenolate group of the ligand. We have characterized the complex with electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and EPR spectroscopy. Electrochemically the Mn-2(III,III) complex undergoes two metal-centered quasi-reversible one-electron reduction steps (E-1/2 = 0.04 and -0.32 V vs. SCE). Reduction to the Mn-2(II,III) state results in transformation into a modified complex with slightly different redox properties. One-electron oxidation (E-1/2 = 0.96 V vs. SCE) affords the Mn-2(III,IV) state while further one-electron oxidation (E-1/2 = 1.13 V vs. SCE) presumably involves ligand oxidation. High valent Mn complexes involving Mn-IV or Mn-V centers are of particular interest as intermediates in catalytic water oxidation. The redox potentials of [Mn2L(mu-OAC)(2)](+) show the expected stabilization of higher manganese oxidation states compared with the related complex, [Mn-2(bpmp)(mu-OAc)(2)](+). (C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2002).