X-ray crystal structures of carbonate and hydroxide bridged MnII/MgII heterobimetallic complexes formed by reduction of CO2 or H2O by a Mn0–MgII bonded compound

Abstract The previously reported Mn0–MgII bonded heterobimetallic compound [L†Mn–Mg(MesNacnac)] (L† = −N(Ar†)(SiPri3), Ar† = C6H2{C(H)Ph2}2Pri-2,6,4; MesNacnac = [(MesNCMe)2CH]−; Mes = mesityl) forms an adduct complex, [L†Mn–Mg(THF)(MesNacnac)], when dissolved in THF. Adventitious water is shown to be reduced by [L†Mn–Mg(MesNacnac)] to give the hydroxide bridged heterobimetallic, [L†Mn(μ-OH)2Mg(MesNacnac)]. The Mn0–MgII bonded heterobimtallic reductively disproportionates CO2, affording the carbonate bridged species, [{L†Mn(μ-CO3)Mg(THF) (MesNacnac)}2], in the presence of THF. The three new compounds have been crystallographically characterized.