Researchers at Princeton University have synthesized a new family of robust inorganic catalysts suitable for industrially important oxidation reactions including electrochemical and photochemical conversion of water to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen, and the oxidation of chloride to chlorine. Previously, there were no commercially viable catalysts for the oxidation of water. The catalysts possess a cubical shaped Mn4O4 core that is isolable in multiple oxida tion states and stabilized by unique ligands that bridge across the six faces of the cube. One form of the catalyst employs novel bridging ligands which permit selective access by organic and inorganic substrates thereby controlling product selectivity in oxidation, dehydrogenation and oxygenation reactions. Princeton is currently seeking industrial collaborators to commercialize this technology.