Incorporation of μ3-CO3 into an MnIII/MnIV Mn12 cluster: {[(cyclam)MnIV(μ-O)2MnIII(H2O)(μ-OH)]6(μ3-CO3)2}Cl8·24H2O

The centrosymmetric title cluster, hexaaquadi-μ3-carbonato-hexacyclamhexa-μ2-hydroxido-dodeca-μ2-oxido-hexamanganese(IV)hexamanganese(III) octachloride tetracosahydrate, [Mn12(CO3)2O12(OH)6(C10H24N4)6(H2O)6]Cl8·24H2O, has two μ3-CO3 groups that not only bridge octahedrally coordinated MnIII ions but also act as acceptors to two different kinds of hydrogen bonds. The carbonate anion is planar within experimental error and has an average C—O distance of 1.294 (4) Å. The crystal packing is stabilized by O—H...Cl, O—H...O, N—H...Cl and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. Two of the four independent chloride ions are disordered over five positions, and eight of the 12 independent water molecules are disordered over 21 positions.