Ansa‐Complexes of [Mn(η5‐C5H5)(η6‐C6H6)]: Preparation,Characterization, and Reactivity of [n]Manganoarenophanes (n=1, 2, 3)

We report the synthesis of [n]manganoarenophanes (n=1, 2) featuring boron, silicon, germanium, and tin as ansa‐bridging elements. Their preparation was achieved by salt‐elimination reactions of the dilithiated precursor [Mn(η⁵‐C₅H₄Li)(η⁶‐C₆H₅Li)]?pmdta (pmdta=N,N,N′,N′,N′′‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) with corresponding element dichlorides. Besides characterization by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, the identity of two single‐atom‐bridged derivatives, [Mn(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(η⁶‐C₆H₅)SntBu₂] and [Mn(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(η⁶‐C₆H₅)SiPh₂], could also be determined by X‐ray structural analysis. We investigated for the first time the reactivity of these ansa‐cyclopentadienyl–benzene manganese compounds. The reaction of the distannyl‐bridged complex [Mn(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(η⁶‐C₆H₅)Sn₂tBu₄] with elemental sulfur was shown to proceed through the expected oxidative addition of the Sn?Sn bond to give a triatomic ansa‐bridge. The investigation of the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) capability of [Mn(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(η⁶‐C₆H₅)SntBu₂] with [Pt(PEt₃)₃] showed that an unexpected, unselective insertion into the C_ipso?Sn bonds of [Mn(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(η⁶‐C₆H₅)SntBu₂] had occurred.