A Manganese Nanosheet: New Cluster Topology and Catalysis.

While the coordination chemistry of monometallic complexes and the surface characteristics of larger metal particles are well understood, preparations of molecular metallic nanoclusters remain a great challenge. Discrete planar metal clusters constitute nanoscale snapshots of cluster growth but are especially rare owing to the strong preference for three-dimensional structures and rapid aggregation or decomposition. A simple ligand-exchange procedure has led to the formation of a novel heteroleptic Mn6 nanocluster that crystallized in an unprecedented flat-chair topology and exhibited unique magnetic and catalytic properties. Magnetic susceptibility studies documented strong electronic communication between the manganese ions. Reductive activation of the molecular Mn6 cluster enabled catalytic hydrogenations of alkenes, alkynes, and imines.