Cyanate groups in higher oxidation state metal cluster chemistry: Mixed-valence (II/III) Mn 16 and Mn 18 clusters

Abstract The employment of cyanato (OCN − ) group in high oxidation state manganese cluster chemistry, in conjunction with carboxylate ions and the organic chelating/bridging ligand 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (hmpH), is reported. The syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetochemical characterization are described for [Mn 16 O 8 (OR) 4 (OCN) 4 (O 2 CMe) 12 (hmp) 6 (ROH) 2 ] (R = Me ( 1 ), Et ( 2 )) and [Mn 18 O 14 (O 2 CR) 18 (hmp) 4 (hmpH) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] (R = Me ( 3 ), Et ( 4 )). The 2:1:1:1 reactions of Mn(O 2 CMe) 2 ·4H 2 O, hmpH, NaOCN and NEt 3 in solvent MeOH or EtOH afford the isostructural complexes [Mn 16 O 8 (OR) 4 (OCN) 4 (O 2 CMe) 12 (hmp) 6 (ROH) 2 ] (R = Me ( 1 ), Et ( 2 )). The [Mn 16 (μ 4 -O) 4 (μ 3 -O) 4 (μ-OMe) 4 (μ 3 -OR) 6 (μ-OR) 6 ] 10+ core of representative complex 1 comprises a Mn II 4 Mn III 4 double-cubane subunit attached on either side to two symmetry-related Mn II Mn III 3 defective dicubanes. A similar reaction of Mn(O 2 CR) 2 ·4H 2 O, hmpH, NaOCN and NEt 3 , but in solvent MeCN, led instead to the formation of [Mn 18 O 14 (O 2 CR) 18 (hmp) 4 (hmpH) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] (R = Me ( 3 ), Et ( 4 )). Compounds 3 and 4 are very similar to each other and can be described as a central [Mn III 4 (μ-O) 6 ] rodlike subunit attached on either side to two symmetry-related [Mn 7 O 9 ] subunits. Variable-temperature, solid-state dc and ac magnetic susceptibility studies revealed the presence of predominant antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in all compounds, and possible S  = 2 or 1 (for 1 and 2 ) and S  = 0 (for 3 and 4 ) ground state spin values. The combined results demonstrate the ability of cyanato groups to facilitate the formation of new polynuclear Mn II/III complexes with structures different than these obtained from the use of the related azides.