Carbon-carbon bonds functioning as electron shuttles: The generation of electron-rich manganese(II) Schiff base complexes and their redox chemistry

The reduction of [Mn(II)-salophen] derivatives [salophen = N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato) dianion] led to the formation of C-C bridged dimers. Such C-C bonds function as two electron shuttles in electron-transfer reactions. The reduction of [Mn(salophen)(THF)](2) (1) and [Mn(3,5-Bu(4)(t)salophen)(THF)](2) (3) with 2 equiv of sodium metal led to the corresponding single C-C bond bridged dimers, [Mn-2(salophen(2))Na-2(DME)4] (5) [salophen(2) C-C bonded salophen dimer] and [Mn-2(3,5-Bu(4)(t)salophen(2))Na-2(DME)(6)] (7), respectively. Complexes 5 and 7 undergo a further two electron reduction to Mn-2(*salophen(2)*)Na-4(DME)(6)] (6) [*salophen(2)'' = C-C doubly bended salophen dimer] and [Mn2(*3,5-Bu(4)(t)salophen(2)*)Na-4(DME)(4)] (8), respectively, both containing a double C-C bridge. The obtention of [Mn-2{salophen(Me)CH2)}(2)Na-4(DME)(4)] (9) from Mn(salophen-Me-2)(THF)](2) (2) strongly supports the existence of free radical precursors in the formation of C-C bonds. Complex 6 has been used as a source of four electrons in a number of reactions, thus reduction of Ag+, PhCH2Cl, p-benzoquinone, and [Co-II(MeOsalen)] occurs with the regeneration of the starting material 1. The C-C bond cleavage is the source of electrons, without being involved in any reaction as a reactive site. With stronger oxidizing agents not only complexes 6 and 8 transfer the electrons stored at the C-C bonds but also the metal undergoes a change in the oxidation state. The reaction of 6 with dioxygen produces a novel form of di-mu-oxo-Mn(IV) dimers, where the salophen ligand displays a bridging bonding mode in [Mn-2(mu-salophen)(2)(mu-O)(2)] (15) and [Mn2(mu-3,5-Bu(t)salophen)(2)(mu-O)(2)] (16).