Synthesis, structure, and catalase-like activity of dimanganese(III) complexes of 1,5-bis[(2-hydroxy-5-X-benzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]pentan-3-ol (X = H, Br, OCH3).

New diMn(III) complexes of general formula [Mn(2)L(mu-OR)(mu-OAc)]BPh(4) (H(3)L = 1,5-bis[(2-hydroxy-5-X-benzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]pentan-3-ol, 1: X = H, R = Me, 2: X = OMe, R = Me, 3: X = Br, R = Me, 4: X = Br, R = Et) have been prepared and structurally characterized. The synthesized complexes possess a triply bridged (mu-alkoxo)(2)(mu-acetato)Mn(2)(3+) core, a short intermetallic distance of 2.95/6 A modulated by the aliphatic spacers between the central alcoholato and N-amino donor sites, and the remaining coordination sites of the two Mn(III) centers occupied by the six donor atoms of the polydentate ligand. In dimethylformamide, complexes 1-3 are able to disproportionate more than 1500 equiv of H(2)O(2) without significant decomposition, with first-order dependence on catalyst and saturation kinetic on [H(2)O(2)]. Spectroscopic monitoring of the reaction mixtures revealed that the catalyst converts into [Mn(2)(III)(mu-O)(mu-OAc)L], which is the major active form during cycling. Overall, kinetics and spectroscopic studies of H(2)O(2) dismutation by these complexes converge at a catalytic cycle between Mn(III)(2) and Mn(II)(2) oxidation levels. Comparison to other alkoxo-bridged complexes suggests that the binding mode of peroxide to the metal center of the Mn(III)(2) form of the catalyst is a key factor for tuning the Mn oxidation states involved in the H(2)O(2) dismutation mechanism.

New dimanganese(III) complexes of pentadentate (N2O3) Schiff base ligands with the [Mn2(mu-OAc)(mu-OR)2]3+ core: synthesis, characterization and mechanistic studies of H2O2 disproportionation.

Two new diMn(III) complexes [Mn(2)(III)L(1)(mu-AcO)(mu-MeO)(methanol)(2)]Br (1) and [Mn(2)(III)L(2)(mu-AcO)(mu-MeO)(methanol)(ClO(4))] (2) (L(1)H(3)=1,5-bis(2-hydroxybenzophenylideneamino)pentan-3-ol; L(2)H(3)=1,5-bis(2-hydroxynaphtylideneamino)pentan-3-ol) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Structural studies evidence that these complexes have a bis(mu-alkoxo)(mu-carboxylato) triply bridged diMn(III) core in the solid state and in solution, with two substitution-labile sites--one on each Mn ion--in cis-position. The two complexes show catalytic activity toward disproportionation of H(2)O(2), with saturation kinetics on [H(2)O(2)], in methanol and dimethyl formamide at 25 degrees C. Spectroscopic monitoring of the H(2)O(2) disproportionation reaction suggests that (i) complexes 1 and 2 dismutate H(2)O(2) by a mechanism involving redox cycling between Mn(2)(III) and Mn(2)(IV), (ii) the complexes retain the dinuclearity during catalysis, (iii) the active form of the catalyst contains bound acetate, and (iv) protons favors the formation of inactive Mn(II) species. Comparison to other dimanganese complexes of the same family shows that the rate of catalase reaction is not critically dependent on the redox potential of the catalyst, that substitution of phenolate by naphtolate in the Schiff base ligand favors formation of the catalyst-substrate adduct, and that, in the non-protic solvent, the bulkier substituent at the imine proton position hampers the binding to the substrate.

Synthesis, characterisation and catalase-like activity of dimanganese(III) complexes of 1,5-bis(5-X-salicylidenamino)pentan-3-ol (X=nitro and chloro).

The dimanganese(III,III) complexes [Mn(2)(III)(5-NO(2)-salpentO)(mu-AcO)(mu-MeO)(methanol)(2)]Y (1: Y=Br, 2a: Y=I, 2b: Y=I(3)), [Mn(2)(III)(5-NO(2)-salpentO)(mu-AcO)(mu-MeO)(methanol)(ClO(4))] (3) and [Mn(2)(III)(5-Cl-salpentO)(mu-AcO)(mu-MeO)(methanol)(2)]Br (4), where salpentOH is the symmetrical Schiff base ligand 1,5-bis(salicylidenamino)pentan-3-ol, were synthesised and structurally characterized. Complex 2b crystallises in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, and exhibits Mn. . .Mn separation of 2.911 A. This Mn. . .Mn separation is very close to the other characterized (mu-alkoxo)(2)(mu-acetato)Mn(2)(III) complexes of X-salpentOH (X=MeO, Br and H) and reveals that the aromatic substituent has little influence on the geometric parameters of the bimetallic core. A correlation between the electronic character of the different ring substituents, the redox potentials of the dinuclear complexes and their catalase activity was evidenced. Complexes 1-4 show saturation kinetics with [H(2)O(2)] and the H(2)O(2) disproportionation involves redox cycling between the Mn(2)(III)/Mn(2)(IV) levels. The catalytic activity studies show that bound acetate is required for catalase activity and that the acetato and alkoxo bridges serve as internal bases facilitating the proton transfer coupled to oxidation of the metal centre.