The metal-chain complexes (X)[Os(CO)3(CNBut)]3Mn(CO)5 (X=Cl, Br, I)

In what is a new metal-chain forming reaction, (X)[Os(CO)3(CNBut)]3Mn(CO)5 (X=Cl, Br, I) complexes have been prepared by the successive addition of Os(CO)4(CNBut) to Mn(CO)5(X) in hexane. The crystal structure of the iodo derivative reveals it to contain an approximately linear Os3 Mn chain of metal atoms.