A [Mn₁₈] wheel-of-wheels.

Area of Science:

• Inorganic Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Magnetochemistry

Background:

• Manganese-based coordination compounds are of interest for their magnetic properties.
• The synthesis of complex multinuclear clusters presents challenges in controlling structure and properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel manganese cluster with a unique wheel-of-wheels architecture.
• To investigate the magnetic properties and exchange interactions within the synthesized manganese cluster.

Main Methods:

• Reaction of manganese(II) bromide tetrahydrate (MnBr2·4H2O) and a ligand (LH3) in methanol.
• Single-crystal X-ray diffraction to determine the molecular structure.
• Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements.
• Computational studies (e.g., DFT) to support experimental findings.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of a [Mn18] wheel-of-wheels complex.
• The structure consists of two asymmetric [MnIII6MnII2] square wheels linked by two MnII ions.
• Magnetic data indicate the presence of competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between manganese ions.

Conclusions:

• The [Mn18] wheel-of-wheels structure represents a novel topology in manganese cluster chemistry.
• The interplay of different manganese oxidation states and bridging ligands leads to complex magnetic behavior.
• Computational studies successfully rationalize the observed magnetic properties.