Di-2-pyridyl ketone oxime in 3d-metal carboxylate cluster chemistry: a new family of mixed-valence Mn2IIMn2III complexes

Several reaction schemes involving di-2-pyridyl ketone oxime, (py)2CNOH, Mn sources, RCO2− ligands and X− in MeCN or MeCN/EtOH lead to the new family of mixed-valence complexes [Mn2IIMn2III(O2CR)2X2{(py)2CNO}2{(py)2CO2}2] (R=Me, Ph; X=Cl, Br; (py)2CO22−=the gem-diolate(-2) form of di-2-pyridyl ketone). The products have been characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography and exhibit the same structural motif. Magnetic studies indicate weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in the complexes.