Artificial Mn4Ca Clusters with Exchangeable Solvent Molecules Mimicking the Oxygen-Evolving Center in Photosynthesis

The natural Mn4Ca cluster in photosystem II serves as a blueprint to develop artificial water-splitting catalysts for the generation of solar fuel in artificial photosynthesis. Although significant advances have recently been achieved, it remains a great challenge to prepare robust artificial Mn4Ca clusters that precisely mimic the structure and function of the biological catalyst. Herein, we report the isolation and structural characterization of two Mn4CaO4 complexes with polar solvent molecules, acetonitrile or N,N-dimethylformamide, which closely mimics the two water molecules on the calcium ion, as well as the oxidation states of the four manganese ions and the main geometric structure of the natural Mn4Ca cluster. These new artificial Mn4Ca complexes provide important chemical clues to understand the structure and mechanism of the biological system.