Equatorial Ligand Perturbations Influence the Reactivity of Manganese(IV)‐Oxo Complexes

Manganese(IV)‐oxo complexes are often invoked as intermediates in Mn‐catalyzed C−H bond activation reactions. While many synthetic Mn^IV‐oxo species are mild oxidants, other members of this class can attack strong C−H bonds. The basis for these reactivity differences is not well understood. Here we describe a series of Mn^IV‐oxo complexes with N5 pentadentate ligands that modulate the equatorial ligand field of the Mn^IV center, as assessed by electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and Mn K‐edge X‐ray absorption methods. Kinetic experiments show dramatic rate variations in hydrogen‐atom and oxygen‐atom transfer reactions, with faster rates corresponding to weaker equatorial ligand fields. For these Mn^IV‐oxo complexes, the rate enhancements are correlated with both 1) the energy of a low‐lying ⁴E excited state, which has been postulated to be involved in a two‐state reactivity model, and 2) the Mn^III/IV reduction potentials.