Mn(4)/(AE)(2) complexes, AE=Ca,1 or Ba,2, display Mn(3)(III)Mn(II) valence-trapped states and Jahn-Teller compressed Mn(III) ions, consistent with the S(0) (or S(-2)) oxidation level of PSII. Ba(2+) and Ca(2+) ligate Mn-bonded carboxylate oxygens either directly or via H(2)O molecules, respectively. The (O-H-O)(3-) ligand, symmetric, mu(4), as in 1, is asymmetric, mu(5), in 2, part of a mu(3)-oxo Mn(2)Ba unit. AE dependent acetate ligation to Mn is also observed. 1 and 2 have biomimetic catalase activity.