Four binucleating ligands bearing 4- and 6-coordinate sites employing phenolate bridges have been prepared. Bimetallic copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of some of these ligands have been isolated and characterized. Crystal structures of two of the cooper(II) complexes have been determined. A monometallic manganese(II) complex of one of these ligands was isolated. Upon exposure to dioxygen, acetonitrile solutions of the complex in the presence of chloride ions lead to the formation of a manganese(IV) complex. The crystal structure of this complex is reported, and it is shown that the metal is in the 4-coordinate ligand site and is bound to two chloride ions.