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Lewis acid‐bound high valent Mn‐oxo species are of great importance due to their relevance to photosystem II. Here, we report the synthesis of a unique [(BnTPEN)Mn(III)−O−Ce(IV)(NO3)4]+ adduct (2) by the reaction of (BnTPEN)Mn(II) (1) with 4 eq. ceric ammonium nitrate. 2 has been characterized using UV/Vis, NMR, resonance Raman spectroscopy, as well as by mass spectrometry. Treatment of 2 with Sc(III)(OTf)3 results in the formation of (BnTPEN)Mn(IV)−O−Sc(III) (3), while HClO4 addition to 2 forms (BnTPEN)Mn(IV)−OH (4), reverting to 2 upon Ce(III)(NO3)3 addition. 2 can also be prepared by the oxidation of 1 eq. Ce(III)(NO3)3 with [(BnTPEN)Mn(IV)=O]2+ (5). In addition, the EPR spectroscopy revealed the elegant temperature‐dependent equilibria between 2 and Mn(IV) species. The binding of redox‐active Ce(IV) boosts electron transfer efficiency of 2 towards ferrocenes. Remarkably, the newly characterized Mn(III)−O−Ce(IV) species can carry out O‐atom and H‐atom transfer reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of [(L)MnII]2+ (L = neutral polypyridine ligand framework) in the presence of mCPBA (mCPBA = m‐Chloroperoxybenzoic acid) generates a putative MnV=O species at RT. The proposed MnV=O species is capable of performing the aromatic hydroxylation of Cl‐benzoic acid derived from mCPBA to give [(L)MnIII(m‐Cl‐salicylate)]+, which in the presence of excess mCPBA generates a metastable [(L)MnV(O)(m‐Cl‐salicylate)]+, characterized by UV/Vis absorption, EPR, resonance Raman spectroscopy, and ESI‐MS studies. The current study highlights the fact that [(L)MnIII(m‐Cl‐salicylate)]+ formation may not be a dead end for catalysis. Further, a plausible mechanism has been proposed for the formation of [(L)MnV(O)‐m‐Cl‐salicylate)]+ from [(L)MnIII(m‐Cl‐salicylate)]+. The characterized transient [(L)MnV(O)‐m‐Cl‐salicylate)]+ reported in the current work exhibits high reactivity for oxygen atom transfer reactions, supported by the electrophilic character depicted from Hammett studies using a series of para‐substituted thioanisoles. The unprecedented study starting from a non‐heme neutral polypyridine ligand framework paves a path for mimicking the natural active site of photosystem II under ambient conditions. Finally, evaluating the intracellular effect of Mn(II) complexes revealed an enhanced intracellular ROS and mitochondrial dysfunction to prevent the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450s and Galactose Oxidases exploit redox active ligands to form reactive high valent intermediates for oxidation reactions. This strategy works well for the late 3d metals where accessing high valent states is rather challenging. Herein, we report the oxidation of NiII(salen) (salen=N,N′‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐salicylidene)‐1,2‐cyclohexane‐(1R,2R)‐diamine) with mCPBA (meta‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid) to form a fleeting NiIII bisphenoxyl diradical species, in CH3CN and CH2Cl2 at −40 °C. Electrochemical and spectroscopic analyses using UV/Vis, EPR, and resonance Raman spectroscopies revealed oxidation events both on the ligand and the metal centre to yield a NiIII bisphenoxyl diradical species. DFT calculations found the electronic structure of the ligand and the d‐configuration of the metal center to be consistent with a NiIII bisphenoxyl diradical species. This three electron oxidized species can perform hydrogen atom abstraction and oxygen atom transfer reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]