A single tripodal ligand stabilizing three different oxidation states (II, III, and IV) of manganese.

A series of mononuclear Mn(II), Mn(III), and Mn(IV) complexes was prepared using a single tripodal ligand (H(3)L). Addition of a cation (NH(4)(+), K(+), Na(+)) to [Mn(III)L] showed a pronounced effect on the redox potentials. Different variants of Jahn-Teller distortion, axial elongation and compression, were observed in the Mn(III) complexes.