The molecular bis-(tris(carbene)borate) manganese(IV) complex [{PhB(MeIm)3}2Mn](OTf)2 shows 2Eg → 4A2g luminescence at 828 nm in the solid state at 85 K; this wavelength is longer by approximately 100 nm than the wavelengths typically observed for manganese(IV) and chromium(III) doped solids and for molecular chromium(III) complexes. Weak luminescence is also observed from a LMCT excited state with an absorption maximum at 500 nm. This represents the first molecular manganese(IV) compound for which luminescence has been reported.

X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to probe the ground-state electronic structures of mononuclear Mn(IV) complexes [Mn(IV)(OH)2(Me2EBC)](2+) and [Mn(IV)(O)(OH)(Me2EBC)](+). These compounds are known to effect C-H bond oxidation reactions by a hydrogen-atom transfer mechanism. They provide an ideal system for comparing Mn(IV)-hydroxo versus Mn(IV)-oxo motifs, as they differ by only a proton. Simulations of 5 K EPR data, along with analysis of variable-temperature EPR signal intensities, allowed for the estimation of ground-state zero-field splitting (ZFS) and (55)Mn hyperfine parameters for both complexes. From this analysis, it was concluded that the Mn(IV)-oxo complex [Mn(IV)(O)(OH)(Me2EBC)](+) has an axial ZFS parameter D (D = +1.2(0.4) cm(-1)) and rhombicity (E/D = 0.22(1)) perturbed relative to the Mn(IV)-hydroxo analogue [Mn(IV)(OH)2(Me2EBC)](2+) (|D| = 0.75(0.25) cm(-1); E/D = 0.15(2)), although the complexes have similar (55)Mn values (a = 7.7 and 7.5 mT, respectively). The ZFS parameters for [Mn(IV)(OH)2(Me2EBC)](2+) were compared with values obtained previously through variable-temperature, variable-field magnetic circular dichroism (VTVH MCD) experiments. While the VTVH MCD analysis can provide a reasonable estimate of the magnitude of D, the E/D values were poorly defined. Using the ZFS parameters reported for these complexes and five other mononuclear Mn(IV) complexes, we employed coupled-perturbed density functional theory (CP-DFT) and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations with second-order n-electron valence-state perturbation theory (NEVPT2) correction, to compare the ability of these two quantum chemical methods for reproducing experimental ZFS parameters for Mn(IV) centers. The CP-DFT approach was found to provide reasonably acceptable values for D, whereas the CASSCF/NEVPT2 method fared worse, considerably overestimating the magnitude of D in several cases. Both methods were poor in reproducing experimental E/D values. Overall, this work adds to the limited investigations of Mn(IV) ground-state properties and provides an initial assessment for calculating Mn(IV) ZFS parameters with quantum chemical methods.

Understanding the function of Mn ions in biological and chemical redox catalysis requires precise knowledge of their electronic structure. X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) is an emerging technique with a growing application to biological and biomimetic systems. Here, we report an improved, cost-effective spectrometer used to analyze two biomimetic coordination compounds, [Mn(OH)(MeEBC)] and [Mn(O)(OH)(MeEBC)], the second of which contains a key Mn═O structural fragment. Despite having the same formal oxidation state (Mn) and tetradentate ligands, XES spectra from these two compounds demonstrate different electronic structures. Experimental measurements and DFT calculations yield different localized spin densities for the two complexes resulting from Mn-OH conversion to Mn═O. The relevance of the observed spectroscopic changes is discussed for applications in analyzing complex biological systems such as photosystem II. A model of the S intermediate state of photosystem II containing a Mn═O fragment is compared to recent time-resolved X-ray diffraction data of the same state.

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Although there have been reports describing the nucleophilic reactivity of peroxomanganese(III) intermediates, as well as their conversion to high-valent oxo-bridged dimers, it remains a challenge to activate peroxomanganese(III) species for conversion to high-valent, mononuclear manganese complexes. Herein, we report the generation, characterization, and activation of a peroxomanganese(III) adduct supported by the cross-clamped, macrocyclic Me2EBC ligand (4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane). This ligand is known to support high-valent, mononuclear Mn(IV) species with well-defined spectroscopic properties, which provides an opportunity to identify mononuclear Mn(IV) products from O-O bond activation of the corresponding Mn(III)-peroxo adduct. The peroxomanganese(III) intermediate, [Mn(III)(O2)(Me2EBC)](+), was prepared at low-temperature by the addition of KO2 to [Mn(II)(Cl)2(Me2EBC)] in CH2Cl2, and this complex was characterized by electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and Mn K-edge X-ray absorption (XAS) spectroscopies. The electronic structure of the [Mn(III)(O2)(Me2EBC)](+) intermediate was examined by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations. Detailed spectroscopic investigations of the decay products of [Mn(III)(O2)(Me2EBC)](+) revealed the presence of mononuclear Mn(III)-hydroxo species or a mixture of mononuclear Mn(IV) and Mn(III)-hydroxo species. The nature of the observed decay products depended on the amount of KO2 used to generate [Mn(III)(O2)(Me2EBC)](+). The Mn(III)-hydroxo product was characterized by Mn K-edge XAS, and shifts in the pre-edge transition energies and intensities relative to [Mn(III)(O2)(Me2EBC)](+) provide a marker for differences in covalency between peroxo and nonperoxo ligands. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first observation of a mononuclear Mn(IV) center upon decay of a nonporphyrinoid Mn(III)-peroxo center.

A monomeric MnII complex has been prepared with the facially-coordinating TpPh2 ligand, (TpPh2 = hydrotris(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-yl)borate). The X-ray crystal structure shows three coordinating solvent molecules resulting in a six-coordinate complex with Mn-ligand bond lengths that are consistent with a high-spin MnII ion. Treatment of this MnII complex with excess KO2 at room temperature resulted in the formation of a MnIII-O2 complex that is stable for several days at ambient conditions, allowing for the determination of the X-ray crystal structure of this intermediate. The electronic structure of this peroxomanganese(III) adduct was examined by using electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and variable-temperature variable-field (VTVH) MCD spectroscopies. Density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent (TD)-DFT, and multireference ab initio CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations were used to assign the electronic transitions and further investigate the electronic structure of the peroxomanganese(III) species. The lowest ligand-field transition in the electronic absorption spectrum of the MnIII-O2 complex exhibits a blue shift in energy compared to other previously characterized peroxomanganese(III) complexes that results from a large axial bond elongation, reducing the metal-ligand covalency and stabilizing the σ-antibonding Mn dz2 MO that is the donor MO for this transition.

The new tetradentate L7BQ ligand (L7BQ = 1,4-di(quinoline-8-yl)-1,4-diazepane) has been synthesized and shown to support MnII and MnIII-peroxo complexes. X-ray crystallography of the [MnII(L7BQ)(OTf)2] complex shows a monomeric MnII center with the L7BQ ligand providing four donor nitrogen atoms in the equatorial field, with two triflate ions bound in the axial positions. When this species is treated with H2O2 and Et3N at -40 °C, a MnIII-peroxo adduct, [MnIII(O2)(L7BQ)]+ is formed. The formation of this new intermediate is supported by a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including electronic absorption, Mn K-edge X-ray absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance methods. Evaluation of extended X-ray absorption fine structure data for [MnIII(O2)(L7BQ)]+ resolved Mn-O bond distances of 1.85 Å, which are on the short end of those previously reported for crystallographically characterized MnIII-peroxo adducts. An analysis of the X-ray pre-edge region of [MnIII(O2)(L7BQ)]+ revealed a large pre-edge area of 20.8 units. Time-dependent density functional theory computations indicate that the pre-edge intensity is due to Mn 4p-3d mixing caused by geometric distortions from centrosymmetry induced by both the peroxo and L7BQ ligands. The reactivity of [MnIII(O2)(L7BQ)]+ towards aldehydes was assessed through reaction with cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde and 2-phenylpropionaldehyde. From these experiments, it was determined that [MnIII(O2)(L7BQ)]+ only reacts with aldehydes in the presence of acid. Specifically, the addition of cyclohexanecarboxylic acid to [MnIII(O2)(L7BQ)]+ converts the MnIII-peroxo adduct to a new intermediate that could be responsible for the observed aldehyde deformylation activity. These observations underscore the challenges in identifying the reactive metal species in aldehyde deformylation reactions.

Six-coordinate MnIII complexes are typically high-spin (S = 2), however, the scorpionate ligand, both in its traditional, hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate form, Tp− and Tp*− (the latter with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole substituents) and in an aryltris(carbene)borate (i.e., N-heterocyclic carbene, NHC) form, [Ph(MeIm)3B]−, (MeIm = 3-methylimidazole) lead to formation of bis(scorpionate) complexes of MnIII with spin triplet ground states; three of which were investigated herein: [Tp2Mn]SbF6 (1SBF6), [Tp*2Mn]SbF6 (2SBF6), and [{Ph(MeIm)3B}2Mn]CF3SO3 (3CF3SO3). These trigonally symmetric complexes were studied experimentally by magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy (the propensity of 3 to oxidize to MnIV precluded collection of useful MCD data) including variable temperatures and fields (VTVH-MCD) and computationally by ab initio CASSCF/NEVPT2 methods. These combined experimental and theoretical techniques establish the 3A2g electronic ground state for the three complexes, and provide information on the energy of the “conventional” high-spin excited state (5Eg) and other, triplet excited states. These results show the electronic effect of pyrazole ring substituents in comparing 1 and 2. The tunability of the scorpionate ligand, even by perhaps the simplest change (from pyrazole in 1 to 3,5-dimethylpyrazole in 2) is quantitatively manifested through perturbations in ligand-field excited-state energies that impact ground-state zero-field splittings. The comparison with the NHC donor is much more dramatic. In 3, the stronger σ-donor properties of the NHC lead to a quantitatively different electronic structure, so that the lowest lying spin triplet excited state, 3Eg, is much closer in energy to the ground state than in 1 or 2. The zero-field splitting (zfs) parameters of the three complexes were calculated and in the case of 1 and 2 compare closely to experiment (lower by < 10%, < 2 cm−1 in absolute terms); for 3 the large magnitude zfs is reproduced, although there is ambiguity about its sign. The comprehensive picture obtained for these bis(scorpionate) MnIII complexes provides quantitative insight into the role played by the scorpionate ligand in stabilizing unusual electronic structures.