Linear trinuclear manganese(II) complexes: crystal structures and magnetic properties

Two new trinuclear manganese(II) complexes, [Mn3(O2CCH(CH3)2)6(N–N)2] (N–N is 1,10′-phenanthroline (1) and 2,2′-bipyridine (2)) have been prepared and fully characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed a linear arrangement of three Mn(II) centers bridged by six isobutyric carboxylate groups. The magnetic measurements showed that both complexes exhibit an ST = 5/2 spin ground state induced by antiferromagnetic interactions between the Mn(II) sites: J/kB = −2.31(2) and −2.67(2) K for 1 and 2, respectively.