A novel
family of five Mn–Te–CO complexes was prepared
via facile syntheses: mono spirocyclic [Mn4Te(CO)16]2– (1), four-membered Mn2Te2 ring-type [Mn2Te2(CO)8]2– (2), hydride-containing square
pyramidal [HMn3Te2(CO)9]2– (3), and dumbbell-shaped [Mn6Te6(CO)18]4– (4) and [Mn6Te10(CO)18]4– (5). Electron-precise complexes 4 and 5 exhibit unusual paramagnetism arising from two types of Mn atoms
in different oxidation states, as determined by X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and density functional
theory (DFT) calculations. The structural transformations from small-sized
Mn4Te 1 and Mn2Te2
2 to the largest Mn6Te10
5 were controllable, the off/on magnetic-switched transformation between
HMn3Te2
3 and 5 was
reversible, and the magnetic transformation between Mn6Te6
4 and 5 was observed. Interestingly,
the reversible dehydridation and hydridation between the HMn3Te2-based cluster 3 and [Mn3Te2(CO)9]− were successfully accomplished,
in which the release of a high yield of H2 was detected
by gas chromatography. In addition, upon the addition of CO, cluster 3 first forms a carbonyl-inserted intermediate [HMn3Te2(CO)10]2– (3′), detected by the high resolution ESI-MS, which is readily transformed
to a dimeric dihydrido cluster [{HMn3Te2(CO)10}2]2– (6) with
the introduction of O2. These low- to high-nuclearity complexes
exhibit rich redox properties with semiconducting behavior in solids,
possessing low but tunable energy gaps (1.06–1.62 eV) due to
efficient electron transport via nonclassical C–H···O(carbonyl)
interactions. The structural nature, reversible structural transformations,
controllable on/off magnetic switches, electron communication networks,
and associated chemical properties for hydrogen generation are discussed
in detail and supported by DFT calculations, density of states, band
structures, and noncovalent interaction analyses.