X-ray photoelectron spectra of heterometallic 3d-metal carboxylate complexes

The electronic structure and magnetic states in the heterometallic hexanuclear complex Mn4IIFe2III (μ4-O)2(Piv)10 · MeCN4 have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The substitution of two Mn atoms for two Fe atoms in the hexanuclear complex was found to have an effect on the patterns of iron and manganese X-ray photoelectron spectra. XPS data are evidence of the high-spin paramagnetic state of MnII and FeIII atoms, as well as of the ligand-metal charge transfer upon complex formation. In the heteroatomic complex, the degree of bond covalence increased for both the manganese and iron atoms. The results obtained are in good agreement with X-ray diffraction data.