Rare tetranuclear mixed-valent [Mn(II)2Mn(IV)2] clusters as building blocks for extended networks

We report the synthesis of a series of mixed valence Mn(II/IV) tetranuclear clusters Mn(II)(2)Mn(IV)(2)O(2)(heed)(2)(EtOH)(6)Br(2)]Br(2) (), Mn(II)(2)Mn(IV)(2)O(2)(heed)(2)(H(2)O)(2)Cl(4)].2EtOH.H(2)O (.2EtOH.H(2)O), Mn(II)(2)Mn(IV)(2)O(2)(heed)(2)(heedH(2))(2)](ClO(4))(4) (), Mn(II)(2)Mn(IV)(2)O(2)(heed)(2)(MeCN)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(bpy)(2)](ClO(4))(4) () and Mn(II)(2)Mn(IV)(2)O(2)(heed)(2)(bpy)(2)Br(4)].2MeOH (.2MeOH). Clusters are constructed from the tripodal ligand N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylene diamine (heedH(2)) and represent rare examples of tetranuclear Mn clusters possessing the linear trans zig-zag topology, being the first Mn(II/IV) mixed-valent clusters of this type. The molecular clusters can then be used as building blocks in tandem with the (linear) linker dicyanamide (N(CN)(2)](-), dca(-)) for the formation of a novel extended network {Mn(II)(2)Mn(IV)(2)O(2)(heed)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(MeOH)(2)(dca)(2)]Br(2)}(n) (), which exhibits a rare form of the 2D herring bone topology.