Water oxidation catalysis via immobilization of the dimanganese complex [Mn2(μ-O)2Cl(μ-O2CCH3)(bpy)2(H2O)](NO3)2 onto silica.

Adsorption of a dinuclear μ-oxo bridged Mn complex onto mesoporous silica was observed when SBA15 was treated with an acetonitrile solution of [Mn2(μ-O)2Cl(μ-O2CCH3)(H2O)(bpy)2](NO3)2 (1). This complex was immobilized via the displacement of NO3(-) into solution, and characterization by spectroscopic (DRIFTS and DRUV-vis) and magnetic data indicates that the intact dication is electrostatically bound to the silica surface. Loadings of up to 4.