How to use gsettings when there is no schema listed
I expect it to be this, adding "quotes" to the value as part of the proper GVariant formatting required for setting strings.
gsettings set org.compiz.core:/org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/core/ active-plugins \
"['core', 'composite', 'opengl', 'copytex', 'decor', 'regex', 'compiztoolbox', 'place'
,'imgpng', 'grid', 'unitymtgrabhandles', 'resize', 'mousepoll', 'snap', 'gnomecompat',
'move', 'vpswitch', 'session', 'wall', 'animation', 'workarounds', 'fade', 'ezoom',
'unityshell', 'expo', 'scale']"