Correlations between photophysical and electrochemical properties for a series of new Mn carbonyl complexes containing substituted phenanthroline ligands

•Comparisons of photophysical and electrochemical properties of manganese compounds.•Effect of ligand variation (electron-donating/electron-withdrawing substituents).•Synthesis/characterization of three new Mn(phen)(CO)3Cl compounds.•X-ray crystallographic structure Mn(5-Cl-phen)(CO)3Cl.

Three new complexes of the type Mn(NN)(CO)3Br have been synthesized, where NN = 5-substituted-1,10-phenanthroline. The novel compounds have been characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, CV, HRMS, and UV/Vis, as well as X-ray crystallography in one case. The known NN = phenanthroline compound, and four analogous Re(I) compounds are also presented; their photophysical and electrochemical properties are discussed. A correlation is apparent between the MLCT absorbance bands and the electrochemical reduction of both the Re and Mn series of compounds.

Graphical abstractA comparison of λmax values for three Mn-based compounds is made with their reduction potentials (E0).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide