Preorganized assembly of three iron(ii) or manganese(ii) β-diketiminate complexes using a cyclophane ligand

A trinucleating cyclophane bearing three β-diketimine arms, and the corresponding iron(II) and manganese(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The three metal ions are oriented towards the internal void space, and are coordinated by a N2Br2 donor set, in which a unique combination of μ(3), μ, and terminal coordination modes are observed for the halide donors.