Crystal structures and electrochemical properties of two Mn(II) 2-sulfoterephthalate complexes with N-donor ligands

Two Mn(II) sulfoterephthalate complexes, Mn(HStp)(o-Phen)₂] (I) and Mn(HStp)(2,2′-Bipy)₂] (II) (H₃Stp = 2-sulfoterephthalic acid, o-Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-Bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine), were synthesized under hydrothermal condition. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that complexes I and II possess similar structure, in which the center Mn²⁺ ions are hexa-coordinated with one Hstpanion and two N-donor ligands. For both of them, the formation of 3D supramolecular structures are based on both H-bonds and π...π/C-H...π stacking interactions. Electrochemical properties of complexes I and II have been investigated by means of cyclic voltmetry, which shows that electron transfer between Mn(III) and Mn(II) in electrolysis is quasi-reversible process.