Quinoline-based tetradendate nitrogen ligands stabilize the bis(micro-oxo) dinuclear manganese(iii,iii) core

Quinoline-based, tetradentate nitrogen ligands, N,N'-bis(2-quinolylmethyl)-N,N'-dialkyl-1,2-ethanediamine (alkyl = methyl, bqdmen; ethyl, bqdeen; isopropyl, bqdpen), have been investigated as the supporting ligands for the formation of bis(micro-oxo) dinuclear manganese complexes. Bis(micro-oxo)Mn(2)(iii,iii) complexes and were obtained for bqdmen and bqdeen, respectively, as evidenced by X-ray crystallography, whereas bqdpen did not afford any manganese complexes due to its steric bulk. Complexes and exhibit highly positive Mn(2)(iii,iii)/Mn(2)(iii,iv) and Mn(2)(iii,iv)/Mn(2)(iv,iv) redox couples relative to the corresponding pyridine-ligated (micro-O)(2)Mn(2)(iii,iii) complexes.