CARBON-CARBON BONDS FUNCTIONING AS ELECTRON SHUTTLES - THE GENERATIONOF ELECTRON-RICH MANGANESE(II) SCHIFF-BASE COMPLEXES AND THEIR REDOX CHEMISTRY

The reduction of [Mn(II)-salophen] derivatives [salophen = N,N'-ethyle nebis(salicylideneaminato) dianion] led to the formation of C-C bridge d 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 c ontaining 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 sup ports 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 num ber of reactions, thus reduction of Ag+, PhCH2Cl, p-benzoquinone, and [Co-II(MeOsalen)] occurs with the regeneration of the starting materia l 1. The C-C bond cleavage is the source of electrons, without being i nvolved in any reaction as a reactive site. With stronger oxidizing ag ents 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 mod e in [Mn-2(mu-salophen)(2)(mu-O)(2)] (15) and [Mn2(mu-3,5-Bu(t)salophe n)(2)(mu-O)(2)] (16).