μ-O bridged Mn10 assemblies with open O6 sites for binding extra guests: structural, magnetic, and surface studies

High nuclearity [Mn(10)M(2)] clusters have been achieved through a self-assembly approach where multiple coordinating functional groups are incorporated into one ligand. When the hydrazone group appended with an oxime function as a reactive intermediate is used, the attachment of a vanillin subunit creates a ligand (L4) with three coordinating groups, which in their own right lead to cluster assemblies. The trifunctional ligand L4 produces a series of self-assembled, mixed oxidation state (Mn(II)/Mn(III)) Mn(10)M(2) based clusters with an overall linear structure comprising two connected pentanuclear Mn(5) halves, which bind alkali metal cations (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) and H(3)O(+) in the vanillin (O(6)) end pockets, created by the assembly of three ligands around each Mn(5) subunit. Antiferromagnetic exchange dominates the spin coupling in the Mn(10) complexes, and surface studies on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) clearly show the arrangement of metal ions (Mn, Cs) in the Mn(10)Cs(2) linear cluster assembly.