Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Manganese(II) Bipyridine Carboxylato Complexes: [(bipy)2MnII(μ‐C2H5CO2)2MnII(bipy)2](ClO4)2 and [MnII(ClCH2CO2)(H2O)(bipy)2]ClO4 · H2O (bipy = 2,2′‐bipyridine)

Two manganese(II) bipyridine carboxylate complexes, [(bipy)₂Mn^II(μ‐C₂H₅CO₂)₂Mn^II(bipy)₂}₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 ), and [Mn^II(ClCH₂CO₂)(H₂O)(bipy)₂]ClO₄ · H₂O ( 2 ) were prepared. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 with a = 8.604(3), b = 12.062(3), c = 13.471(3) Å, α = 112.47(2), β = 93.86(2), γ = 92.87(3)°, V = 1211.1(6) ų and Z = 1. In the dimeric, cationic complex with a crystallographic center of symmetry two 2,2′‐bipyridine molecules chelate each manganese atom. These two metal fragments are then bridged by two propionato groups in a syn‐anti conformation. The Mn…Mn distance is 4.653 Å. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 9.042(1), b = 13.891(1), c = 21.022(3) Å, β = 102.00(1)°, V = 2569.3(5) ų and Z = 4. 2  is a monomeric cationic complex in which two bipyridine ligands chelate the manganese atom in a cis fashion. A chloroacetato and an aqua ligand complete the six‐coordination. Only in 2 is the intermolecular packing controlled by weak π‐stacking besides C–H…π contacts between the bipyridine ligands.