  We present high-frequency high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)
measurements on the dodecanuclear manganese complex Mn12-bromoacetate
(Mn12-BrAc). The crystal-field parameters are found to be identical to those of
the original compound Mn12-acetate (Mn12-Ac). A detailed analysis of the
frequency and temperature dependence of anomalous peaks observed in the EPR
spectra of Mn12-BrAc enables us to locate the S=9 manifold at about 40 K above
the Ms= +/-10 ground state of this nominally S=10 system. This is very close to
the Ms = +/-6 state of the S = 10 manifold, thus suggesting pathways for the
thermally assisted magnetization dynamics and related properties. Finally, the
EPR fine structures recently attributed to disorder associated with the acetic
acid of crystallization in Mn12-Ac are absent in the present measurements, thus
suggesting that the Mn12-BrAc complex represents a more suitable candidate for
measurements of quantum effects in high symmetry S=10 SMMs.
