A mixed-valence dimanganese complex synthesized from the [Ph2P(O)NP(O)Ph2]− anion with [BrMn(CO)5]

The reaction of the [Ph2P(O)NP(O)Ph2]− anion with [BrMn(CO)5] in refluxed dichloromethane afforded the mixed-valence complex [Mn2(CO)3{Ph2P(O)NP(O)Ph2-μ-O,O′}3] (1). The single-crystal X-ray analysis of 1 shows that its overall geometry can be regarded as confacial octahedral–trigonal prismatic. The six-membered MnO2P2N rings adopt a twisted-boat conformation. Although the distance between the metal centers, 3.160 Å, is rather short, we discard a formal bonding interaction since the fragment Mn(CO)3 fulfills the 18e− rule with coordination to two oxygen atoms and a covalent interaction with a third oxygen atom.