A mixed‐valence manganese(III)–manganese(IV) di‐μ‐oxo complex, [(cyclam)MnO]2(ClO4)2(NO3)

The title dinuclear di‐μ‐oxo‐bis­[(1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐κ⁴N)­manganese(III,IV)] diperchlorate nitrate complex, [Mn₂O₂(C₁₀H₂₄N₄)₂](ClO₄)₂(NO₃) or [(cyclam)Mn­O]₂(ClO₄)₂(NO₃), was self‐assembled by the reaction of Mn²⁺ with 1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane in aqueous media. The structure of this compound consists of a centrosymmetric binuclear [(cyclam)MnO]³⁺ unit, two perchlorate anions and one nitrate anion. While the low‐temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectra show a typical 16‐line signal for a di‐μ‐oxo Mn^III/Mn^IV dimer, the magnetic susceptibility studies also confirm a characteristic antiferromagnetic coupling between the electronic spins of the Mn^IV and Mn^III ions.     

Effect of Inter‐Porphyrin Distance on Spin‐State in Diiron(III) μ‐Hydroxo Bisporphyrins

The synthesis, structure, and properties of bischloro, μ‐oxo, and a family of μ‐hydroxo complexes (with BF₄^?, SbF₆^?, and PF₆^? counteranions) of diethylpyrrole‐bridged diiron(III) bisporphyrins are reported. Spectroscopic characterization has revealed that the iron centers of the bischloro and μ‐oxo complexes are in the high‐spin state (S=⁵/₂). However, the two iron centers in the diiron(III) μ‐hydroxo complexes are equivalent with high spin (S=⁵/₂) in the solid state and an intermediate‐spin state (S=³/₂) in solution. The molecules have been compared with previously known diiron(III) μ‐hydroxo complexes of ethane‐bridged bisporphyrin, in which two different spin states of iron were stabilized under the influence of counteranions. The dimanganese(III) analogues were also synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. A comparison of the X‐ray structural parameters between diethylpyrrole and ethane‐bridged μ‐hydroxo bisporphyrins suggest an increased separation, and hence, less interactions between the two heme units of the former. As a result, unlike the ethane‐bridged μ‐hydroxo complex, both iron centers become equivalent in the diethylpyrrole‐bridged complex and their spin state remains unresponsive to the change in counteranion. The iron(III) centers of the diethylpyrrole‐bridged diiron(III) μ‐oxo bisporphyrin undergo very strong antiferromagnetic interactions (J=?137.7 cm^?1), although the coupling constant is reduced to only a weak value in the μ‐hydroxo complexes (J=?42.2, ?44.1, and ?42.4 cm^?1 for the BF₄, SbF₆, and PF₆ complexes, respectively).     

Observation of a CuII2(μ‐1,2‐peroxo)/CuIII2(μ‐oxo)2 Equilibrium and its Implications for Copper–Dioxygen Reactivity

Synthesis of small‐molecule Cu₂O₂ adducts has provided insight into the related biological systems and their reactivity patterns including the interconversion of the Cu^II₂(μ‐η²:η²‐peroxo) and Cu^III₂(μ‐oxo)₂ isomers. In this study, absorption spectroscopy, kinetics, and resonance Raman data show that the oxygenated product of [(BQPA)Cu^I]⁺ initially yields an “end‐on peroxo” species, that subsequently converts to the thermodynamically more stable “bis‐μ‐oxo” isomer (K_eq=3.2 at ?90 °C). Calibration of density functional theory calculations to these experimental data suggest that the electrophilic reactivity previously ascribed to end‐on peroxo species is in fact a result of an accessible bis‐μ‐oxo isomer, an electrophilic Cu₂O₂ isomer in contrast to the nucleophilic reactivity of binuclear Cu^II end‐on peroxo species. This study is the first report of the interconversion of an end‐on peroxo to bis‐μ‐oxo species in transition metal‐dioxygen chemistry.     

Hydrogen‐Atom Abstraction Reactions by Manganese(V)– and Manganese(IV)–Oxo Porphyrin Complexes in Aqueous Solution

High‐valent manganese(IV or V)–oxo porphyrins are considered as reactive intermediates in the oxidation of organic substrates by manganese porphyrin catalysts. We have generated Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins in basic aqueous solution and investigated their reactivities in C? H bond activation of hydrocarbons. We now report that Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins are capable of activating C? H bonds of alkylaromatics, with the reactivity order of Mn^V–oxo>Mn^IV–oxo; the reactivity of a Mn^V–oxo complex is 150 times greater than that of a Mn^IV–oxo complex in the oxidation of xanthene. The C? H bond activation of alkylaromatics by the Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins is proposed to occur through a hydrogen‐atom abstraction, based on the observations of a good linear correlation between the reaction rates and the C? H bond dissociation energy (BDE) of substrates and high kinetic isotope effect (KIE) values in the oxidation of xanthene and dihydroanthracene (DHA). We have demonstrated that the disproportionation of Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins to Mn^V–oxo and Mn^III porphyrins is not a feasible pathway in basic aqueous solution and that Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins are able to abstract hydrogen atoms from alkylaromatics. The C? H bond activation of alkylaromatics by Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo species proceeds through a one‐electron process, in which a Mn^IV–‐oxo porphyrin is formed as a product in the C? H bond activation by a Mn^V–oxo porphyrin, followed by a further reaction of the Mn^IV–oxo porphyrin with substrates that results in the formation of a Mn^III porphyrin complex. This result is in contrast to the oxidation of sulfides by the Mn^V–oxo porphyrin, in which the oxidation of thioanisole by the Mn^V–oxo complex produces the starting Mn^III porphyrin and thioanisole oxide. This result indicates that the oxidation of sulfides by the Mn^V–oxo species occurs by means of a two‐electron oxidation process. In contrast, a Mn^IV–oxo porphyrin complex is not capable of oxidizing sulfides due to a low oxidizing power in basic aqueous solution.     

(18‐Crown‐6)‐μ‐oxo‐hexa­kis(tetra­hydro­borato)diuranium(IV): an unprecedented asymmetric dinuclear complex

In the title compound, (1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexa­oxacyclo­octa­decane‐1κ⁶O)‐μ‐oxo‐1:2κ²O:O‐hexa­kis(tetra­hydro­borato)‐1κ³H;2κ²H;2κ²H;2κ³H;2κ³H;2κ³H‐diuranium(IV), [U₂(BH₄)₆O(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)], one of the U atoms (U1), located at the centre of the crown ether moiety, is bound to the six ether O atoms, and also to a tridentate tetra­hydro­borate group and a μ‐oxo atom in axial positions. The other U atom (U2) is bound to the same oxo group and to five tetra­hydro­borate moieties, three of them tridentate and the other two bidentate. The two metal centres are bridged by the μ‐oxo atom in an asymmetric fashion, thus giving the species (18‐crown‐6)(κ³‐BH₄)U=(μ‐O)—U(κ³‐BH₄)₃(κ²‐BH₄)₂, in which the U1=O and U2—O bond lengths to the μ‐O atom [1.979 (5) and 2.187 (5) Å, respectively] are indicative of the presence of positive and negative partial charges on U1 and U2, respectively.     

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.     

Protonation of an Oxo‐Bridged Diiron Unit Gives Two Different Iron Centers: Synthesis and Structure of a New Class of Diiron(III)‐μ‐hydroxo Bisporphyrins and the Control of Spin States by Using Counterions

Reported herein is a hitherto unknown family of diiron(III)‐μ‐hydroxo bisporphyrins in which two different spin states of Fe are stabilized in a single molecular framework, although both cores have identical molecular structures. Protonation of the oxo‐bridged dimer ( 2 ) by using strong Brønsted acids, such as HI, HBF₄, and HClO₄, produce red μ‐hydroxo complexes with I₃^? ( 3 ), BF₄^? ( 4 ), and ClO₄^? ( 5 ) counterions, respectively. The X‐ray structure of the molecule reveals that the Fe? O bond length increases on going from the μ‐oxo to the hydroxo complex, whereas the Fe‐O(H)‐Fe unit becomes more bent, which results in the smallest known Fe‐O(H)‐Fe angles of 142.5(2) and 141.2(1)° for 3 and 5 , respectively. In contrast, the Fe‐O(H)‐Fe angle remains unaltered in 4 from the corresponding μ‐oxo complex. The close approach of two rings in a molecule results in unequal core deformations in 3 and 4 , whereas the cores are deformed almost equally but to a lesser extent in 5 . Although 3 was found to have nearly high‐spin and admixed intermediate Fe spin states in cores I and II, respectively, two admixed intermediate spin states were observed in 4 . Even though the cores have identical chemical structures, crucial bond parameters, such as the Fe? N_p, Fe? O, and Fe???Ct_p bond lengths and the ring deformations, are all different between the two Fe^III centers in 3 and 4 , which leads to an eventual stabilization of two different spin states of Fe in each molecule. In contrast, the two Fe centers in 5 are equivalent and assigned to high and intermediate spin states in the solid and solution states, respectively. The spin states are thus found to be dependent on the counterions and can also be reversibly interconverted. Upon protonation, the strong antiferromagnetic coupling in the μ‐oxo dimer (J, ?126.6 cm^?1) is attenuated to almost zero in the μ‐hydroxo complex with the I₃^? counterion, whereas the values of J are ?36 and ?42 cm^?1, respectively, for complexes with BF₄^? and ClO₄^? counterions.     

Oxidation of Naphthalene with a Manganese(IV) Bis(hydroxo) Complex in the Presence of Acid

Naphthalene oxidation with metal–oxygen intermediates is a difficult reaction in environmental and biological chemistry. Herein, we report that a Mn^IV bis(hydroxo) complex, which was fully characterized by various physicochemical methods, such as ESI‐MS, UV/Vis, and EPR analysis, X‐ray diffraction, and XAS, can be employed for the oxidation of naphthalene in the presence of acid to afford 1,4‐naphthoquinone. Redox titration of the Mn^IV bis(hydroxo) complex gave a one‐electron reduction potential of 1.09 V, which is the most positive potential for all reported nonheme Mn^IV bis(hydroxo) species as well as Mn^IV oxo analogues. Kinetic studies, including kinetic isotope effect analysis, suggest that the naphthalene oxidation occurs through a rate‐determining electron transfer process.     

A pentanuclear bimetallic complex of manganese(II) and aluminium(III) ions: tetra‐μ2‐iodido‐iodidobis(μ3‐2‐methoxyethanolato)bis(μ2‐2‐methoxyethanolato)dimethyl(tetrahydrofuran‐κO)aluminium(III)tetramanganese(II)

The molecule of the title compound, [Mn₄Al(CH₃)₂(C₃H₇O₂)₄I₅(C₄H₈O)], contains one Al^III and four Mn^II ions. Two Mn atoms are five‐coordinate in the form of a trigonal bipyramid or a square pyramid. The two other Mn atoms are six‐coordinate with an octahedral geometry. The fourcoordinate Al atom is linked to the manganese core by μ‐O_alkoxo bridges, forming an almost planar five‐membered ring.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of 2‐mercaptosuccinic acid by bis(μ‐oxo)‐ manganese(III,IV)‐cyclam complex in aqueous medium: Influence of externally added copper(II)

Kinetic studies on the oxidation of 2‐mercaptosuccinic acid by dinuclear [Mn₂^III/IV(μ‐O)₂(cyclam)₂](ClO₄)₃] ( 1 ) (abbreviated as Mn^III–Mn^IV) (cyclam = 1,4,8,11‐tetraaza‐cyclotetradecane) have been carried out in aqueous medium in the pH range of 4.0–6.0, in the presence of acetate buffer at 30°C by UV–vis spectrophotometry. In the pH region, two species of complex 1 (Mn^III–Mn^IV and Mn^III–Mn^IVH, the later being μ‐O protonated form) were found to be kinetically significant. The first‐order dependence of the rate of the reactions on [Thiol] both in presence and absence of externally added copper(II) ions, first‐order dependence on [Cu²⁺] and a decrease of rate of the reactions with increase in pH have been rationalized by suitable sequence of reactions. Protonation of μ‐O bridge of 1 is evidenced by the perchloric acid catalyzed decomposition of 1 to mononuclear Mn(III) and Mn(IV) complex observed by UV–vis and EPR spectroscopy. The kinetic features have been rationalized considering Cu(RSH) as the reactive intermediate. EPR spectroscopy lends support for this. The formation of a hydrogen bonded outer‐sphere adduct between the reductant and the complex in the lower pH range prior to electron transfer reactions is most likely to occur. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 170–177 2004     

Facile Conversion of syn‐[FeIV(O)(TMC)]2+ into the anti Isomer via Meunier's Oxo–Hydroxo Tautomerism Mechanism

The syn and anti isomers of [Fe^IV(O)(TMC)]²⁺ (TMC=tetramethylcyclam) represent the first isolated pair of synthetic non‐heme oxoiron(IV) complexes with identical ligand topology, differing only in the position of the oxo unit bound to the iron center. Both isomers have previously been characterized. Reported here is that the syn isomer [Fe^IV(O_syn)(TMC)(NCMe)]²⁺ ( 2 ) converts into its anti form [Fe^IV(O_anti)(TMC)(NCMe)]²⁺ ( 1 ) in MeCN, an isomerization facilitated by water and monitored most readily by ¹H NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Indeed, when H₂¹⁸O is introduced to 2 , the nascent 1 becomes ¹⁸O‐labeled. These results provide compelling evidence for a mechanism involving direct binding of a water molecule trans to the oxo atom in 2 with subsequent oxo–hydroxo tautomerism for its incorporation as the oxo atom of 1 . The nonplanar nature of the TMC supporting ligand makes this isomerization an irreversible transformation, unlike for their planar heme counterparts.     

A High-Valent Non-Heme μ-Oxo Manganese(IV) Dimer Generated from a Thiolate-Bound Manganese(II) Complex and Dioxygen

This study deals with the unprecedented reactivity of dinuclear non-heme Mn^II–thiolate complexes with O₂, which dependent on the protonation state of the initial Mn^II dimer selectively generates either a di-μ-oxo or μ-oxo-μ-hydroxo Mn^IV complex. Both dimers have been characterized by different techniques including single-crystal X-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry. Oxygenation reactions carried out with labeled ¹⁸O₂ unambiguously show that the oxygen atoms present in the Mn^IV dimers originate from O₂. Based on experimental observations and DFT calculations, evidence is provided that these Mn^IV species comproportionate with a Mn^II precursor to yield μ-oxo and/or μ-hydroxo Mn^III dimers. Our work highlights the delicate balance of reaction conditions to control the synthesis of non-heme high-valent μ-oxo and μ-hydroxo Mn species from Mn^II precursors and O₂.     

catena‐Poly[potassium [copper(II)‐μ‐isothiocyanato‐μ‐N‐salicylidene‐β‐alaninato(2–)]]

The title polymeric compound, catena‐poly­[dipotassium [bis­[μ‐N‐salicyl­idene‐β‐alaninato(2−)]‐κ⁴O,N,O′:O′′;κ⁴O′′:O,N,O′‐dicopper(II)]‐di‐μ‐iso­thio­cyanato‐κ²N:S;κ²S:N], {K[Cu(NCS)(C₁₀H₉NO₃)]}_n, consists of [iso­thio­cyanato(N‐salicyl­idene‐β‐alaninato)copper(II)]⁻ anions connected through the two three‐atom thio­cyanate (μ‐NCS) and the two anti,anti‐μ‐­carboxyl­ate bridges into infinite one‐dimensional polymeric anions, with coulombically interacting K⁺ counter‐ions with coordination number 7 constrained between the chains. The Cu^II atoms adopt a distorted tetragonal–bipyramidal coordination, with three donor atoms of the tridentate Schiff base and one N atom of the bridging μ‐NCS ligand in the basal plane. The first axial position is occupied by a thio­cyanate S atom of a symmetry‐related μ‐NCS ligand at an apical distance of 2.9770 (8) Å, and the second position is occupied by an O atom of a bridging carboxyl­ate group from an adjacent coordination unit at a distance of 2.639 (2) Å.     

Mass‐Production of Mesoporous MnCo2O4 Spinels with Manganese(IV)‐ and Cobalt(II)‐Rich Surfaces for Superior Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis

A mesoporous MnCo₂O₄ electrode material is made for bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis. The MnCo₂O₄ exhibits both Co₃O₄‐like activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and Mn₂O₃‐like performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The potential difference between the ORR and OER of MnCo₂O₄ is as low as 0.83 V. By XANES and XPS investigation, the notable activity results from the preferred Mn^IV‐ and Co^II‐rich surface. The electrode material can be obtained on large‐scale with the precise chemical control of the components at relatively low temperature. The surface state engineering may open a new avenue to optimize the electrocatalysis performance of electrode materials. The prominent bifunctional activity shows that MnCo₂O₄ could be used in metal–air batteries and/or other energy devices.     

Mechanistic Insight into the Nitric Oxide Dioxygenation Reaction of Nonheme Iron(III)–Superoxo and Manganese(IV)–Peroxo Complexes

Reactions of nonheme Fe^III–superoxo and Mn^IV–peroxo complexes bearing a common tetraamido macrocyclic ligand (TAML), namely [(TAML)Fe^III(O₂)]^2? and [(TAML)Mn^IV(O₂)]^2?, with nitric oxide (NO) afford the Fe^III–NO₃ complex [(TAML)Fe^III(NO₃)]^2? and the Mn^V–oxo complex [(TAML)Mn^V(O)]^? plus NO₂^?, respectively. Mechanistic studies, including density functional theory (DFT) calculations, reveal that M^III–peroxynitrite (M=Fe and Mn) species, generated in the reactions of [(TAML)Fe^III(O₂)]^2? and [(TAML)Mn^IV(O₂)]^2? with NO, are converted into M^IV(O) and ^.NO₂ species through O?O bond homolysis of the peroxynitrite ligand. Then, a rebound of Fe^IV(O) with ^.NO₂ affords [(TAML)Fe^III(NO₃)]^2?, whereas electron transfer from Mn^IV(O) to ^.NO₂ yields [(TAML)Mn^V(O)]^? plus NO₂^?.     

Poly[[diaquamanganese(II)]‐μ3‐4‐oxido‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylato‐κ4O4,O5:O2:O2]

In the title compound, [Mn(C₅H₂N₂O₄)(H₂O)₂]_n, the Mn^II ion has a distorted octahedral geometry and the 4‐oxido‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate (Hiso²⁻) anion acts as a μ₃:η⁴‐bridging ligand. Two oxo O atoms from different Hiso²⁻ ligands bridge two Mn^II ions, forming centrosymmetric dinuclear building blocks. Each dinuclear building block interacts with another four by the coordination of the oxide groups and carboxylate O atoms, producing a two‐dimensional framework in the ab plane. Hydrogen bonds further extend the two‐dimensional sheets into a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework.     

Mononuclear Manganese–Peroxo and Bis(μ‐oxo)dimanganese Complexes Bearing a Common N‐Methylated Macrocyclic Ligand

Mononuclear Mn^III–peroxo and dinuclear bis(μ‐oxo)Mn^III₂ complexes that bear a common macrocyclic ligand were synthesized by controlling the concentration of the starting Mn^II complex in the reaction of H₂O₂ (i.e., a Mn^III–peroxo complex at a low concentration (≤1 mM ) and a bis(μ‐oxo)Mn^III₂ complex at a high concentration (≥30 mM )). These intermediates were successfully characterized by various physicochemical methods such as UV–visible spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, resonance Raman, and X‐ray analysis. The structural and spectroscopic characterization combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated unambiguously that the peroxo ligand is bound in a side‐on fashion in the Mn^III–peroxo complex and the Mn₂O₂ diamond core is in the bis(μ‐oxo)Mn^III₂ complex. The reactivity of these intermediates was investigated in electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions, in which only the Mn^III–peroxo complex showed a nucleophilic reactivity in the deformylation of aldehydes.     

Mixed‐ligand MnII and CuII complexes with alternating 2,2′‐bipyrimidine and terephthalate bridges

The novel polymeric complexes catena‐poly[[diaquamanganese(II)]‐μ‐2,2′‐bipyrimidine‐κ⁴N¹,N^1′:N³,N^3′‐[diaquamanganese(II)]‐bis(μ‐terephthalato‐κ²O¹:O⁴)], [Mn₂(C₈H₄O₄)₂(C₈H₆N₄)(H₂O)₄]_n, (I), and catena‐poly[[[aquacopper(II)]‐μ‐aqua‐μ‐hydroxido‐μ‐terephthalato‐κ²O¹:O^1′‐copper(II)‐μ‐aqua‐μ‐hydroxido‐μ‐terephthalato‐κ²O¹:O^1′‐[aquacopper(II)]‐μ‐2,2′‐bipyrimidine‐κ⁴N¹,N^1′:N³,N^3′] tetrahydrate], {[Cu₃(C₈H₄O₄)₂(OH)₂(C₈H₆N₄)(H₂O)₄]·4H₂O}_n, (II), containing bridging 2,2′‐bipyrimidine (bpym) ligands coordinated as bis‐chelates, have been prepared via a ligand‐exchange reaction. In both cases, quite unusual coordination modes of the terephthalate (tpht²⁻) anions were found. In (I), two tpht²⁻ anions acting as bis‐monodentate ligands bridge the Mn^II centres in a parallel fashion. In (II), the tpht²⁻ anions act as endo‐bridges and connect two Cu^II centres in combination with additional aqua and hydroxide bridges. In this way, the binuclear [Mn₂(tpht)₂(bpym)(H₂O)₄] entity in (I) and the trinuclear [Cu₃(tpht)₂(OH)₂(bpym)(H₂O)₄]·4H₂O coordination entity in (II) build up one‐dimensional polymeric chains along the b axis. In (I), the Mn^II cation lies on a twofold axis, whereas the four central C atoms of the bpym ligand are located on a mirror plane. In (II), the central Cu^II cation is also on a special position (site symmetry ). In the crystal structures, the packing of the chains is further strengthened by a system of hydrogen bonds [in both (I) and (II)] and weak face‐to‐face π–π interactions [in (I)], forming three‐dimensional metal–organic frameworks. The Mn^II cation in (I) has a trigonally deformed octahedral geometry, whereas the Cu^II cations in (II) are in distorted octahedral environments. The Cu^II polyhedra are inclined relative to each other and share common edges.     

Ligand‐Supported Facile Conversion of Uranyl(VI) into Uranium(IV) in Organic and Aqueous Media

Reduction of uranyl(VI) to U^V and to U^IV is important in uranium environmental migration and remediation processes. The anaerobic reduction of a uranyl U^VI complex supported by a picolinate ligand in both organic and aqueous media is presented. The [U^VIO₂(dpaea)] complex is readily converted into the cis‐boroxide U^IV species via diborane‐mediated reductive functionalization in organic media. Remarkably, in aqueous media the uranyl(VI) complex is rapidly converted, by Na₂S₂O₄, a reductant relevant for chemical remediation processes, into the stable uranyl(V) analogue, which is then slowly reduced to yield a water‐insoluble trinuclear U^IV oxo‐hydroxo cluster. This report provides the first example of direct conversion of a uranyl(VI) compound into a well‐defined molecular U^IV species in aqueous conditions.     

A comparative kinetic study for the oxidation of 2‐mercaptoethanol by di‐μ‐oxo‐bis(1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane)‐dimanganese(III,IV) and di‐μ‐oxo‐bis(1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane)‐dimanganese(III,IV) complexes: Influence of copper(II)

A comparative kinetic study of the reactions of two mixed valence manganese(III,IV) complexes with macrocyclic ligands, [L¹Mn^IV(O)₂Mn^IIIL¹], 1 (L¹ = 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane) and [L²Mn^IV(O)₂Mn^IIIL²], 2 (L² = 1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane) with 2‐mercaptoethanol (RSH) has been carried out by spectrophotometry in aqueous buffer at (30 ± 0.1)°C. Rate of the reactions between the oxidants and the reductant was found to be negligibly slow with no systematic dependence on either redox partners. Externally added copper(II) (usually 5 × 10^?7 mol dm^?3), however, increases the rate of the reduction of 1 and 2 significantly. In the presence of catalytic amount of copper(II), the rate of the reaction is nearly proportional to [RSH] at lower concentration of the reductant but follows a saturation kinetics at higher concentration of the latter for the reaction between 1 and the thiol. Reaction rate was found to be strongly influenced by the variation of acidity of the medium and the observed kinetics suggests that the two reductant species ([Cu(RSH)]²⁺ and [Cu(RS)]⁺) are significant for the reaction between 1 and the thiol. The dependence of the rate on [RSH] for the reduction of 2 by the thiol was complex and rationalized considering two equilibria involving the catalyst (Cu²⁺) and the reductant. The pH rate profile suggests that both the μ‐O protonated [Mn^III(O)(OH)Mn^IV] and the deprotonated [Mn^III(O)₂Mn^IV] forms of the oxidant 2 become important. The kinetic results presented in this study indicate the domination of outer‐sphere path. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 129–137, 2004