Synthesis and structure characterization of a tetranuclear manganese(III) complex:: [Mn4O2(O2CMe)6(MeOH)2(dbm)2] • 2MeCOOH•2CH2Cl2

The title compound, [Mn4O2(O2CMe)(6)(MeOH)(2)(dbM)(2)]center dot 2MeCOOH center dot 2CH(2)Cl(2) (Hdbm dibenzoylmethane), has been synthesized and structurally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to triclinic, space group P (1) over bar, with a = 10.729(3), b = 12.269(3), c = 13.085(4) angstrom, alpha = 106.367(3), beta = 107.643(2), gamma = 94.771(2)degrees, V = 1547.9(7) angstrom(3), Z = 1, C50H64Cl4Mn4O24, M-r = 1410.57, D-c = 1.513 g/cm(3), F(000) = 724, R-int = 0.0147, T = 293(2) K and mu = 1.046 mm(-1). The final R = 0.0359 and wR = 0.0938 for 5791 observed reflections with I > 2 sigma(I). The structure of the complex consists of one [Mn-4(mu(3)-O)(2)](8+) core with four coplanar Mn atoms disposed in an extended "butterfly-like" arrangement and two O atoms triply bridging each "wing", and the peripheral ligation is provided by six mu(2)-MeCO2-, two terminal mu(2)-dbm(-) groups at the two ends of the molecule, and two MeOH molecules on the central Mn atoms. Intermolecular O center dot center dot center dot H-O hydrogen bonding interactions are found within the structure of the compound.