Tuning a single ligand system to stabilize multiple spin states of manganese: a first example of a hydrazone-based manganese(III) spin-crossover complex.

A series of bis-chelate pseudo-octahedral mononuclear coordination complexes of manganese with the chromophore [MnN4 O2 ](n+) (n=0, 1) have been generated in all three principal oxidation states of this transition-metal center under ambient conditions by utilizing a readily tunable, versatile phenolic pyridylhydrazone ligand system (i.e., H2 (3,5-R(1) ,R(2) )-L; L=ligand).