Anion-controlled assembly of four manganese ions: structural, magnetic, and electrochemical properties of tetramanganese complexes stabilized by xanthene-bridged Schiff base ligands.

The reaction of manganese(II) acetate with a xanthene-bridged bis[3-(salicylideneamino)-1-propanol] ligand, H(4)L, afforded the tetramanganese(II,II,III,III) complex [Mn(4)(L)(2)(μ-OAc)(2)], which has an incomplete double-cubane structure. The corresponding reaction using manganese(II) chloride in the presence of a base gave the tetramanganese(III,III,III,III) complex [Mn(4)(L)(2)Cl(3)(μ(4)-Cl)(OH(2))], in which four Mn ions are bridged by a Cl(-) ion. A pair of L ligands has a propensity to incorporate four Mn ions, the arrangement and oxidation states of which are dependent on the coexistent anions.