Structure and Bonding of the Manganese(II) Phosphide Complex (t-BuPH(2))(eta(5)-Cp)Mn{mu-(t-BuPH)}(2)Mn(Cp)(t-BuPH(2))

Rather than achieving bis-deprotonation of the phosphine, reaction of Cp2Mn (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) with t-BuPH2 at room temperature yields monodeprotonation of half of the available phosphine in the product (t-BuPH2)(η5-Cp)Mn{μ-(t-BuPH)}2Mn(Cp)(t-BuPH2) (1). This complex comprises a Mn(II) phosphide and is a dimer in the solid state, containing a Mn2P2 diamond core. Consistent with the observation of a relatively short intermetal distance of 2.8717(4) Å in 1, DFT analysis of the full structure points to a singlet ground state stabilized by a direct Mn–Mn single bond. This is in line with the diamagnetic character of 1 and an 18-electron count at Mn.