Synthesis, Characterization, Magnetic and Catalytic Properties of a Ladder-Shaped Mn super(II) Coordination Polymer

[Mn(LH)(H sub(2)O)] sub(n) {1, where LH super(2-) is the dianion of N-(4-carboxybenzyl)iminodiacetic acid} has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been determined. The crystal of 1 is built from 1D polymeric ladder-shaped chains that extend to a 3D supramolecular architecture through H-bonds. The compound was characterized with spectroscopic and physicochemical techniques. Variable-temperature magnetic data suggest that there are weak antiferromagnetic interactions. Compound 1 has been evaluated as a heterogeneous oxidation catalyst. It catalyzes alkene epoxidation selectively in relatively high yields. A new ladder-shaped Mn super(II) coordination polymer (CP) with a N-substituted iminodiacetate ligand has been synthesized and characterized. It demonstrates catalytic activity as a heterogeneous catalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes in the presence of H sub(2)O sub(2).