Density functional study on geometrical features and electronic structures of di-mu-oxo-bridged [Mn2O2(H2O)8]q+ with Mn(II), Mn(III), and Mn(IV)

We report the geometrical features and electronic structures of di-mu-oxo-bridged Mn-Mn binuclear complexes with H2O ligands [Mn2O2(H2O)8]q+ in the iso- and mixed-valence oxidation states. All of the combinations among Mn(II), Mn(III), and Mn(IV) ions are considered the oxidation states of the Mn-Mn center, and the changes in molecular structure induced by the different electron configurations of Mn-based orbitals are investigated in relation to the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II. The stable geometries of complexes are determined by using the hybrid-type density functional theory for both of the highest- and lowest-spin couplings between Mn sites, and the lowest-spin-coupled states are energetically more favorable than the highest-spin-coupled states except in the case of the complexes with the Mn(II) ion. The coordination positions of H2O ligands at the Mn(II) site tend to shift from the octahedral positions in contrast to those at the Mn(III) and Mn(IV) sites. The shape of the Mn2O2 core and the distances between the Mn ions and the H2O ligands vary depending on the electron occupations of the octahedral eg orbitals on the Mn site with an antibonding nature for the Mn-ligand interactions, indicating the trend as Mn(II)-O > Mn(III)-O and Mn(IV)-O, O-Mn(II)-O > O-Mn(III)-O > O-Mn(IV)-O among the iso-valence Mn2O2 cores, and O-Mn(lower)-O < O-Mn(higher)-O within the mixed-valence Mn2O2 core, and as Mn(II)-OH2 and Mn(III)-OH2 > Mn(IV)-OH2 for the axial H2O ligand. The optimized geometries of model complexes are compared with the X-ray structure of the OEC, and it is suggested that the cubane-like Mn cluster of the active site may not contain a Mn(II) ion. The effective exchange integrals are estimated by applying the approximate spin projection to clarify the magnetic coupling between Mn sites, and the superexchange pathways through the di-mu-oxo bridge are examined on the basis of the singly occupied magnetic orbitals derived from the singlet-coupled natural orbitals in the broken-symmetry state. The comparisons of the calculated results between [Mn2O2(H2O)8]q+ in this study and [Mn2O2(NH3)8]q+ reported by McGrady et al. suggest that the symmetric pathways are dominant to the exchange coupling constant, and the crossed pathway would be less important for the former than it would for the latter in the Mn(III)-Mn(III), Mn(IV)-Mn(IV), and Mn(III)-Mn(IV) oxidation states.     

Structure and properties of new mixed-valent [Mn(III)2Mn(IV)3Ln(III)5O5] complexes (Ln(III) = Tm(III), Lu(III), and Yb(III))

By using 2'-hydroxyacetophenoxime, a new family of complexes with an [Mn(III)(2)Mn(IV)(3)Ln(5)O(5)] core was obtained with Ln = Tm (1), Lu (2), and Yb (3). Heterometallic Mn/Tm and Mn/Lu combinations have had no precedence so far. Studies of the magnetic properties indicate the presence of intracomplex antiferromagnetic interactions in 1 and 3, as well as a dominating ferromagnetic interaction between Mn(III) and Mn(IV) spins in 2, leading to an S(T) = 5/2 ground state.     

Synthesis and activity of macrocyclized chiral Mn(III)-Schiff-base epoxidation catalysts

A series of chiral macrocyclic Mn(III)Salen complexes has been prepared with two salicylidene moieties linked in their 3 and 3′ positions by aliphatic polyether bridges of variable lengths or by a more rigid aromatic junction arm. X-ray structures of ligand precursors and of complex 8 have been performed. All complexes have been used in the asymmetric epoxidation of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene with NaOCl as oxygen atom donor and exhibited modest enantiomeric excesses. Complex 10 was selected to be tested with two cis-disubstituted olefins and several oxidants, namely NaOCl, PhIO and n-Bu₄NHSO₅. 2,2′-Dimethylchromene oxide was obtained from 2,2′-dimethylchromene with ee values of 56% and 74% when using 10 and NaOCl and PhIO, respectively.     

Slow magnetic relaxation in a mixed-valence Mn(II/III) Complex: [MnII2(bispicen)2(mu 3-Cl)2Mn(III)(Cl4Cat)2Mn(III)(Cl4Cat)2(H2O)2] infinity

A layered mixed-valence manganese complex, [Mn(II)(2)(bispicen)(2)(mu(3)-Cl)(2)Mn(III)(Cl(4)Cat)(2)Mn(III)(Cl(4)Cat)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](infinity), is synthesized and characterized structurally. It displays a slow magnetic relaxation and hysteresis effect.     

Carboxylate-free Mn(III)2Ln(III)2 (Ln = lanthanide) and Mn(III)2Y(III)2 complexes from the use of (2-hydroxymethyl)pyridine: analysis of spin frustration effects

The initial employment of 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine for the synthesis of Mn/Ln (Ln = lanthanide) and Mn/Y clusters, in the absence of an ancillary organic ligand, has afforded a family of tetranuclear [Mn(III)(2)M(III)(2)(OH)(2)(NO(3))(4)(hmp)(4)(H(2)O)(4)](NO(3))(2) (M = Dy, 1; Tb, 2; Gd, 3; Y; 4) anionic compounds. 1-4 possess a planar butterfly (or rhombus) core and are rare examples of carboxylate-free Mn/Ln and Mn/Y clusters. Variable-temperature dc and ac studies established that 1 and 2, which contain highly anisotropic Ln(III) atoms, exhibit slow relaxation of their magnetization vector. Fitting of the obtained magnetization (M) versus field (H) and temperature (T) data for 3 by matrix diagonalization and including only axial anisotropy (zero-field splitting, ZFS) showed the ground state to be S = 3. Complex 4 has an S = 0 ground state. Fitting of the magnetic susceptibility data collected in the 5-300 K range for 3 and 4 to the appropriate van Vleck equations revealed, as expected, extremely weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the paramagnetic ions; for 3, J(1) = -0.16(2) cm(-1) and J(2) = -0.12(1) cm(-1) for the Mn(III)···Mn(III) and Mn(III)···Gd(III) interactions, respectively. The S = 3 ground state of 3 has been rationalized on the basis of the spin frustration pattern in the molecule. For 4, J = -0.75(3) cm(-1) for the Mn(III)···Mn(III) interaction. Spin frustration effects in 3 have been quantitatively analyzed for all possible combinations of sign of J(1) and J(2).     

(Li0.91Mn0.09)Mn2O4

Lithium manganese oxide crystals with composition (Li_0.91Mn_0.09)Mn₂O₄ were synthesized by a flux method. The crystals have a structure closely related to that of the cubic spinel LiMn₂O₄, but 9% of the lithium ions in the tetrahedral 4a site are substituted by Mn²⁺ ions. This substitution lowers the average Mn oxidation state below 3.5+, resulting in a Jahn–Teller distortion of the MnO₆ octahedron.     

Polymer‐supported Ti(IV) and Mn(III) asymmetric alkene epoxidation catalysts

Epoxides represent a very important group of speciality and fine chemicals because they are derived directly from alkenes, a primary petrochemical source, and because of the breadth of opportunity they offer the organic synthetic chemist in terms of the highly selective reactions they undergo, often requiring only very mild conditions. Since most epoxides also bear at least one stereogenic centre the strategic importance of these molecules in synthesis is even higher. The most important asymmetric alkene epoxidation catalyst systems that have been discovered are those reported by Sharpless and his co‐workers utilising tartrate ester complexed Ti(IV) centres¹ and by Jacobsen and his co‐workers utilising chiral Mn(III) salen complexes.² The former system provides high conversions and high enantioselectivity (enantiomeric excess, ee%) in the case of allylic alcohol substrates, while the latter is likewise effective in the case of non‐functional cis‐internal alkenes, especially cyclic systems. Both catalytic systems are homogeneous and exploitation of both involve rather laborious work‐up procedures. Generally no attempt is made to recover and re‐use these catalysts. The potential advantages in converting a process catalysed by a homogeneous metal complex into one involving a heterogeneous polymer‐supported analogue have been well rehearsed.³ Suffice to say that on a laboratory scale supported metal complex catalysts considerably facilitate product work‐up and isolation, while on a large scale such heterogeneous species allow processes to be run continuously using packed or fluidised bed columns with considerable financial advantages both in terms of capital expenditure on plant and with regard to recurrent costs.     

Doping gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles with Mn(III) suppresses the transition to the alpha-Fe(2)O(3) structure

Here we report on a mixed oxide system, gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles doped with Mn(III), where the transition from the cubic to the more stable hexagonal alpha-Fe2O3 structure is suppressed. When amorphous Fe2O3 is heated at 300 degrees C for 3 h, ferrimagnetic gamma-Fe2O3 is observed as the sole product. On the other hand, when the temperature is raised to 500 degrees C, one observes only antiferromagnetic alpha-Fe2O3 as the product. However, upon doping with 8.5 wt % Mn(III), the amorphous nanoparticles crystallized to mainly the gamma-Fe2O3 matrix after heating at 500 degrees C for 3 h, and need to be heated to >650 degrees C for the complete transition to the alpha-Fe2O3 structure to take place.     

Infrared spectroscopy of Mn+ (H2O) and Mn2+ (H2O) via argon complex predissociation

Singly and doubly charged manganese-water cations, and their mixed complexes with attached argon atoms, are produced by laser vaporization in a pulsed nozzle source. Complexes of the form Mn(+)(H(2)O)Ar(n) (n = 1-4) and Mn(2+)(H(2)O)Ar(4) are studied via mass-selected infrared photodissociation spectroscopy, detected in the mass channels corresponding to the elimination of argon. Sharp resonances are detected for all complexes in the region of the symmetric and asymmetric stretch vibrations of water. With the guidance of density functional theory computations, specific vibrational band resonances are assigned to complexes having different argon attachment configurations. In the small singly charged complexes, argon adds first to the metal ion site and later in larger clusters to the hydrogens of water. The doubly charged complex has argon only on the metal ion. Vibrations in all of these complexes are shifted to lower frequencies than those of the free water molecule. These shifts are greater when argon is attached to hydrogen and also greater for the dication compared to the singly charged species. Cation binding also causes the IR intensities for water vibrations to be much greater than those of the free water molecule, and the relative intensities are greater for the symmetric stretch than the asymmetric stretch. This latter effect is also enhanced for the dication complex.     

Electrochemical and chemical formation of [Mn4(IV)O5(terpy)4(H2O)2]6+, in relation with the photosystem II oxygen-evolving center model [Mn2(III,IV)O2(terpy)2(H2O)2]3+

To examine the real ability of the binuclear di-mu-oxo complex [Mn2(III,IV)O2(terpy)2(H2O)2]3+ (2) to act as a catalyst for water oxidation, we have investigated in detail its redox properties and that of its mononuclear precursor complex [Mn(II)(terpy)2]2+ (1) in aqueous solution. It appears that electrochemical oxidation of 1 allows the quantitative formation of 2 and, most importantly, that electrochemical oxidation of 2 quantitatively yields the stable tetranuclear Mn(IV) complex, [Mn4(IV)O5(terpy)4(H2O)2]6+ (4), having a linear mono-mu-oxo{Mn2(mu-oxo)2}2 core. Therefore, these results show that the electrochemical oxidation of 2 in aqueous solution is only a one-electron process leading to 4 via the formation of a mono-mu-oxo bridge between two oxidized [Mn2(IV,IV)O2(terpy)2(H2O)2]4+ species. 4 is also quantitatively formed by dissolution of the binuclear complex [Mn2(IV,IV)O2(terpy)2(SO4)2] (3) in aqueous solutions. Evidence of this work is that 4 is stable in aqueous solutions, and even if it is a good synthetic analogue of the "dimers-of-dimers" model compound of the OEC in PSII, this complex is not able to oxidize water. As a consequence, since 4 results from an one-electron oxidation of 2, 2 cannot act as an efficient homogeneous electrocatalyst for water oxidation. This work demonstrates that a simple oxidation of 2 cannot produce molecular oxygen without the help of an oxygen donor.     

Structural and physical characterization of tetranuclear [Mn(II)3Mn(IV)] and [Mn(II)2Mn(III)2] valence-isomer manganese complexes

Two tetranuclear Mn complexes with an average Mn oxidation state of +2.5 have been prepared. These valence isomers have been characterized by a combination of X-ray crystallography, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility. The Mn(II)3Mn(IV) tetramer has the Mn ions arranged in a distorted tetrahedron, with an S = 6 ground spin state, dominated by ferromagnetic exchange among the manganese ions. The Mn(II)2Mn(III)2 tetramer also has a distorted tetrahedral arrangement of Mn ions but shows magnetic behavior, suggesting that it is a single-molecule magnet. The X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra for the two complexes are similar, suggesting that, while Mn XANES has sufficient sensitivity to distinguish between trinuclear valence isomers (Alexiou et al. Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 2185), similar distinctions are difficult for tetranuclear complexes such as that found in the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex.     

New Fluoromanganate(III) Hydrates: Mn3F8 · 12H2O and AgMnF4 · 4H2O

Single crystals of fluoride hydrates Mn₃F₈ · 12 H₂O and AgMnF₄ · 4 H₂O have been prepared and characterized by X-ray methods. Mn₃F₈ · 12 H₂O crystallizes in the space group P1 (a = 623.0(3), b = 896.7(4), c = 931.8(4) pm, α = 110.07(2)°, β = 103.18(2)°, γ = 107.54(2)°, Z = 1); AgMnF₄ · 4 H₂O crystallizes in the space group P2₁/m (a = 700.9(2), b = 726.1(1), c = 749.4(3) pm, β = 107.17(3)°, Z = 2). Both structures contain Jahn-Teller-distorted [Mn(H₂O)₂F₄]^? anions as well as crystal water molecules and exhibit a complex hydrogen bond network between anions and cations, i. e. [Mn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ for the first and a polymeric [Ag(H₂O)₂]^? cation for the second compound.     

Octanuclearity and tetradecanuclearity in manganese chemistry: an octanuclear manganese(II)/(III) complex featuring the novel [Mn8(mu4-O)2(mu3-OH)2]14+ core and [Mn10(II)Mn4(III)O4(O2CMe)20[(2-py)2C(OH)O]4] (2-py = 2-pyridyl)

Reactions of Mn sources with di-2-pyridyl ketone, (2-py)2CO, and phenyl 2-pyridyl ketone oxime, (ph)(2-py)CNOH, give the novel clusters [Mn10(II)Mn4(III)O4(O2CMe)20[(2-py)2C(OH)O]4] 1 and [Mn4(II)Mn4(III)O2(OH)2(O2CPh)10[(ph)(2-py)CNO]4] 2, respectively, which possess low-spin ground states; the observed tetradecanuclearity in 1 is extremely rare in 3d-metal chemistry, while the core of 2 has a unique topology consisting of two linked [Mn2(II)Mn2(III)O(OH)] units.     

Cyano-bridged Mn(III)-M(III) single-chain magnets with M(III)=Co(III), Fe(III), Mn(III), and Cr(III)

A series of isostructural cyano-bridged Mn(III)(h.s.)-M(III)(l.s.) alternating chains, [Mn(III)(5-TMAMsalen)M(III)(CN)(6)]?4H(2)O (5-TMAMsalen(2-)=N,N'-ethylenebis(5-trimethylammoniomethylsalicylideneiminate), Mn(III)(h.s.)=high-spin Mn(III), M(III)(l.s.)=low-spin Co(III), Mn-Co; Fe(III), Mn-Fe; Mn(III), Mn-Mn; Cr(III), Mn-Cr) was synthesized by assembling [Mn(III)(5-TMAMsalen)](3+) and [M(III)(CN)(6)](3-). The chains present in the four compounds, which crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c, are composed of an [-Mn(III)-NC-M(III)-CN-] repeating motif, for which the -NC-M(III)-CN- motif is provided by the [M(III)(CN)(6)](3-) moiety adopting a trans bridging mode between [Mn(III)(5-TMAMsalen)](3+) cations. The Mn(III) and M(III) ions occupy special crystallographic positions: a C(2) axis and an inversion center, respectively, forming a highly symmetrical chain with only one kind of cyano bridge. The Jahn-Teller axis of the Mn(III)(h.s.) ion is perpendicular to the N(2)O(2) plane formed by the 5-TMAMsalen tetradentate ligand. These Jahn-Teller axes are all perfectly aligned along the unique chain direction without a bending angle, although the chains are corrugated with an Mn-N(axis) -C angle of about 144°. In the crystal structures, the chains are well separated with the nearest inter-chain M???M distance being relatively large at 9?? due to steric hindrance of the bulky trimethylammoniomethyl groups of the 5-TMAMsalen ligand. The magnetic properties of these compounds have been thoroughly studied. Mn-Fe and Mn-Mn display intra-chain ferromagnetic interactions, whereas Mn-Cr is characterized by an antiferromagnetic exchange that induces a ferrimagnetic spin arrangement along the chain. Detailed analyses of both static and dynamic magnetic properties have demonstrated without ambiguity the single-chain magnet (SCM) behavior of these three systems, whereas Mn-Co is merely paramagnetic with S(Mn)=2 and D/k(B)=-5.3?K (D being a zero-field splitting parameter). At low temperatures, the Mn-M compounds with M=Fe, Mn, and Cr display remarkably large M versus H hysteresis loops for applied magnetic fields along the easy magnetic direction that corresponds to the chain direction. The temperature dependence of the associated relaxation time for this series of compounds systematically exhibits a crossover between two Arrhenius laws corresponding to infinite-chain and finite-chain regimes for the SCM behavior. These isostructural hetero-spin SCMs offer a unique series of alternating [-Mn-NC-M-CN-] chains, enabling physicists to test theoretical SCM models between the Ising and Heisenberg limits.     

One-dimensional ferromagnetic complexes built with Mn(III)3O units

Two chain complexes built with non-carboxylate Mn(III)3O units, [Mn3O(ppz)3(MeOH)3(OAc)]n (1) and [Mn3O(Meppz)3(MeOH)4(OAc)]n (2), were synthesized and characterized. Magnetic studies revealed similar intrachain ferromagnetic interactions in them and field-induced metamagnetic properties in 1.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and activity for H2O2 disproportionation of a binuclear manganese(III) complex [(tol)Mn(bbml)2Mn(tol)](ClO4)2

The title binuclear Mn₂(III) complex was synthesized through the reaction of 2-[bis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amino]ethanol (Hbbml), Mn(DMSO)₆(ClO₄)₃ and o-toluic acid (Htol). X-ray structure analysis shows that the two Mn(III) atoms are bridged by the oxygen atoms of the two bbml ligands, forming a bis(μ-alkoxo)dimanganese core. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS) experiments shows that the complex cation may easily lose one or two tol⁻ ligands leaving an unoccupied coordination site, which would favor the coordination and activation of H₂O₂. Furthermore, its catalytic activity for the disproportionation of H₂O₂ and the effect of added heterocyclic base were also investigated. The complex has some similarities to manganese catalase in structure and activity.