Mononuclear and binuclear manganese(II) complexes with tridentate bis-benzimidazolyl ligands

Summary Manganese(II) complexes of bis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl) ether (DGB), bis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl) sulphide (TGB) and the n-butyl derivative of DGB (BDGB) were prepared and characterised. The solution e.p.r. spectrum of Mn(TGB)Cl₂] in DMF at 143 K is commensurate with an axially distorted monomeric manganese(II) complex, room temperature magnetic moment (6.04 B.M.) per manganese(II) atom being in the range found for other d⁵ monomeric manganese(II) complexes. The solution e.p.r. spectrum of Mn(BDGB)Cl₂]-2H₂O in DMF at 143 K indicates the presence of two equivalent manganese(II) ions coupled by an exchange interaction, fostered by bridging chlorides. Evidence for this is provided by a nearly isotropic 11 line hyperfine structure of ⁵⁵Mn, with a coupling constant 45 ± 5G. Contact-shifted ¹H n.m.r. data also supports an exchange coupled dimeric manganese complex. The room temperature magnetic moment, 5.64 B.M., per manganese(II) indicates quenching of the magnetic moment below that of monomeric manganese(II) ion. The Mn(DGB)Cl₂]·H₂O complex exhibits a magnetic moment of 6.02 B.M. per manganese, indicating a monomeric manganese complex. E.p.r. data of the complex diluted in an analogous Zn-DGB complex (1∶20) correlates well for D = 0.22cm⁻¹ and λ ∼- 0.267. The Mn(DGB)-(C1O₄)₂] and Mn(BDGB)(ClO₄)₂] complexes, diluted in analogous Zn-DGB and Zn-BDGB complexes (1∶20), show a strong single e.p.r. line at g _eff ∼- 2. The complexes have low magnetic moments; 4.44 B.M./Mn and 4.39 B.M./Mn, at room temperature.