Synthesis and reactivity of [(η6-[32](1,3)Cyclophane)Mn(CO)3][BF4]

The manganese cyclophane complex, [(η6-[32](1,3)cyclophane)Mn(CO)3][BF4] 2, was prepared by the reaction of [[32](1,3)cyclophane] 1 with Mn(CO)5FBF3. Reaction of 2 with NaBH3CN yielded the cyclohexadienyl manganese complex [(η5-6H-[32](1,3)cyclophane)Mn(CO)3] 3. Interestingly, treatment of 3 with Mn(CO)5FBF3 gave the bis-manganese complex (η6,η5-6H-[32](1,3)cyclophane)[Mn(CO)3]2[BF4] 4. When NaBH3CN was treated with 4, [(η5,η5-6H,6′H-[32](1,3)cyclophane)Mn(CO)3] 5 was isolated as yellow crystals. The structure of compounds 2 and 3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.