Model Dimeric Manganese(IV) Complexes Featuring Terminal Tris-hydroxotetraazaadamantane and Various Bridging Ligands

A series of model dinuclear manganese(IV) complexes of the general formula [(H₃COH)(L')Mn^IV(μ-L)₂Mn^IV(L')(HOCH₃)] is presented. These compounds feature capping 4,6,10-trihydroxo-3,5,7-trimethyl-1,4,6,10-tetraazaadamantane ligands derived from a polydentate oxime compound (L'). The bridging ligands L include azide (1), methoxide (2), and oxalate (3) anions. The magnetic properties and high-field (HF) EPR spectra of 1-3 were studied in detail and revealed varying weak antiferromagnetic coupling and modest zero-field splitting (ZFS) of the local quartet spin sites. Our HF EPR studies provide insight into the dimer ZFS, including determination of the corresponding parameters by giant spin approach for methoxido-bridged complex 2. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of 1-3 were studied using IR, UV-vis, and electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry) methods. Theoretical exchange coupling constants were obtained using broken-symmetry (BS) density functional theory (DFT). Computational estimates of the local quartet ground spins state ZFSs of 1-3 were obtained using coupled-perturbed (CP) DFT and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations with n-electron valence state perturbation theory (NEVPT2) corrections. We found that the CP DFT calculations which used the B3LYP functional and models derived experimental structures performed best in reproducing both the magnitude and the sign of the experimental D values. Moreover, our computational investigation of 1-3 suggests that we observe metals sites which have an increased +3 character and are supported by redox noninnocent 4,6,10-trihydroxo-3,5,7-trimethyl-1,4,6,10-tetraazaadamantane ligands. The latter conclusion is further corroborated by the observation that the free ligand can be readily oxidized to yield a NO-based radical.