Synthesis and characterization of an unusual equatorially substituted di-manganese compound. The first structural determination of a phosphite compound of type [Mn2(CO)9P]

Reaction of (acetonitrile)-nona(carbonyl)-di-manganese and tri-iso-propyl phosphite provided the new phosphite compound [Mn2(CO)9L]. The product was fully characterized and the molecular structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This represents the first structural analysis of a di-manganese carbonyl compound containing phosphite ligands. In addition, this compound displays a rare example of an equatorially substituted di-manganese carbonyl compound.