Synthesis and structure of the trinuclear complex Mn3(μ,η2-OOCBut)4(μ-OOCBut)2[OC(But)OHNEt3]2 and the binuclear complex Mn2(μ-OOCBut)4[OC(But)OHNEt3]2 with the ‘Chinese lantern’ structure

The treatment of the product of a thermal reaction of manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate and trimethylacetic acid with triethylamine under reflux results in the unusual complex Mn₃(μ,η²-OOCBu^t)₄(μ-OOCBu^t)₂[OC(Bu^t)OHNEt₃]₂, which, according to X-ray diffraction analysis, incorporates a linear Mn₃ metal skeleton and four chelate-bridging trimethylacetate anions; a similar reaction at room temperature yields the Mn₂(μ-OOCBu^t)₄[OC(Bu^t)OHNEt₃]₂ complex, which has a ‘Chinese lantern’ structure with the Mn…Mn distance equal to 3.1087(8) Å.