Synthesis, crystal structure and activity for H2O2 disproportionation of a binuclear manganese(III) complex [(tol)Mn(bbml)2Mn(tol)](ClO4)2

Abstract The title binuclear Mn 2 (III) complex was synthesized through the reaction of 2-[bis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amino]ethanol (Hbbml), Mn(DMSO) 6 (ClO 4 ) 3 and o -toluic acid (Htol). X-ray structure analysis shows that the two Mn(III) atoms are bridged by the oxygen atoms of the two bbml ligands, forming a bis(μ-alkoxo)dimanganese core. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS) experiments shows that the complex cation may easily lose one or two tol − ligands leaving an unoccupied coordination site, which would favor the coordination and activation of H 2 O 2 . Furthermore, its catalytic activity for the disproportionation of H 2 O 2 and the effect of added heterocyclic base were also investigated. The complex has some similarities to manganese catalase in structure and activity.